scholarly journals Determinants of farmers’ knowledge on soil and water conservation technologies in dry zones of Central Highlands, Kenya

2021 ◽  
Vol 25 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Maureen W. Njenga ◽  
Jayne N. Mugwe ◽  
Hezron R. Mogaka ◽  
George Nyabuga ◽  
Nathan Oduor ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Water Conservation ◽  
Information Dissemination ◽  
Soil And Water Conservation ◽  
Farm Size ◽  
Access To Credit ◽  
Central Highlands ◽  
Inclusive Policy ◽  
Knowledge Intensive ◽  
Soil And Water ◽  
Conservation Technologies

This study ascertained the socioeconomic determinants of farmers’ knowledge on soil and water conservation technologies in Dry zones of Central Highlands of Kenya involving 400 farming households. Results showed that the majority of the farmers had inadequate knowledge on the use and benefits of soil and water conservation technologies. The socio-economic factors that influence knowledge levels of the knowledge-intensive technologies were education level, gender, perceptions on soil fertility, farmer group membership, access to training, farm size, access to credit, number of livestock kept and access to farm equipment. This implies that there is the need to come up with an all-inclusive policy that can be employed in improving farmer’s level of knowledge through the use of more innovative methods of information dissemination. This can be done by strengthening the existing farmer groups, enhancing extension services, and also formulating gender-friendly policies.

scholarly journals What Influences Farmer’s Adoption Lag for Soil and Water Conservation Practices? Evidence from Sio-Malaba Malakisi River Basin of Kenya and Uganda Borders

Agronomy ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (10) ◽  
pp. 1985
Author(s):  
Hyacinthe Nyirahabimana ◽  
Alice Turinawe ◽  
Jakob Lederer ◽  
Jeninah Karungi ◽  
Mathew Herrnegger
Keyword(s):  
River Basin ◽  
Water Conservation ◽  
Soil Degradation ◽  
Household Head ◽  
Soil And Water Conservation ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Farm Size ◽  
Conservation Practices ◽  
Access To Credit ◽  
Soil And Water

Agricultural intensification and expansion efforts aimed at feeding increasing populations have led to soil degradation globally. Due to their suitability for resource-constrained farmers, and potential positive impacts on agricultural land improvement, Soil and Water Conservation Practices (SWCPs) are recommended as a solution to soil degradation in Sub Saharan Africa (SSA). However, the adoption rates of SWCPs are low and farmers who adopt them do not adopt on time. There is a lag between the time when farmers first learn about SWCPs and the time of adoption. This study examines the factors influencing adoption lag for Soil and Water Conservation Practices among smallholder farmers in the Sio-Malaba Malakisi River Basin border region of Kenya and Uganda. We utilize data collected from 506 randomly selected households and use the duration analysis model to analyze the data. Results show that the average adoption lag of SWCPs in the study area was about 10 years. Further, reduction in adoption lag is associated with household size, number of accessible markets, access to credit, age of the household head, farm size owned, and tropical livestock units. On the other hand, access to off-farm income and household location in Uganda are associated with increased adoption lag of SWCPs. Participation in social groups, households being male-headed, and education of the household head showed mixed effects on adoption lag, depending on the SWCP of focus. Strengthening farmer social networks and access to credit and markets are recommended as possible interventions to promote the timely adoption of SWCPs.

Determinants of smallholder farmers’ decisions on fertilizer use for cereal crops in the Ethiopian highlands

2020 ◽  
Vol 56 (5) ◽  
pp. 677-687
Author(s):  
Tewodros Tefera ◽  
Eyasu Elias ◽  
Christy van Beek
Keyword(s):  
Family Size ◽  
Water Conservation ◽  
Smallholder Farmers ◽  
Soil And Water Conservation ◽  
Ethiopian Highlands ◽  
Fertilizer Use ◽  
Access To Credit ◽  
Education Status ◽  
Fertilizer Adoption ◽  
Soil And Water

AbstractThis study identified decision variables influencing fertilizer adoption and optimal fertilizer rates among smallholder farmers in the Ethiopian highlands. The fertilizer adoption and fertilizer use were examined in four regional states using a questionnaire survey, which was administered to 2880 farm households. A double hurdle model was used to analyze factors influencing the two independent decisions of adoption of fertilizers and use of fertilizers. The model estimates of the first hurdle revealed that the probability of fertilizer adoption increased by 1.2% as household education status improved, by 1.4% for an increased number of active family members, by 5.6% with improved access to credit, by 3.4% with cooperative membership, by 3.3% with an increase in farm size, by 4.6% when soil and water conservation practices are employed, and by 3.4% when agroecology of the farm is located in the medium to highland zone. Conversely, the probability of fertilizer adoption reduced by 0.9% for an increase in family size, 0.6% with 1 km distance from all-weather road, 1.6% for a kilometer further to farm plots, and 0.9% for an increase in number of parcels. The intensity of use of fertilizers was influenced by education status of the household head, family size, access to credit, membership to cooperatives, use of crop rotation, annual income, number of farm plots owned, use of soil and water conservation, and agroecology. Therefore, a concerted effort is needed to encourage fertilizer adoption and optimum fertilizer use intensity by improving households’ resource endowment, institutional capacity to deliver services, and infrastructure development.

scholarly journals Factors influencing adoption of sustainable soil and water conservation practices among smallholder farmers in Kwara State, Nigeria

2020 ◽  
Vol 24 (4) ◽  
pp. 113-121
Author(s):  
Abigail Oluwatunmise Iyilade ◽  
Oluwasegun Ayodeji Alalade ◽  
Morenike Peju Longe ◽  
Agnes Olubunmi Alokan ◽  
Blessing Akinola-soji
Keyword(s):  
Significant Relationship ◽  
Water Conservation ◽  
Smallholder Farmers ◽  
Sampling Procedure ◽  
Soil And Water Conservation ◽  
Conservation Practices ◽  
Agricultural Policies ◽  
Access To Credit ◽  
Factors Influencing ◽  
Soil And Water

The study examined the factors influencing the adoption of soil and water conservation practices (SWCPs) among smallholder farmers in Kwara State, Nigeria. Multi-stage sampling procedure was used to select 210 farmers. Farmers were surveyed for their adoption of eleven (11) SWCPs, and risk factors and costs of production. Poisson regression model was employed to estimate soil and water conservation practices adoption. Sex, access to credit, land acquisition, technical support, ownership of livestock, distance to input/market, marital status and formal trainings had a significant relationship with the number of soil and water conservation practices adopted by smallholder farmers (P ≤0.01). Some personal and demographic factors, institutional factors, as well as socio-economic factors have a significant relationship with soils and water conservation practices adopted by farmers. Agricultural policies should be geared towards helping smallholder farmers have access to extension service for frequent dissemination of agricultural technology as this will increase the rate of adoption of soil and water conservation practices. Keywords: Adoption, Soil and water conservation techniques; smallholder farmers, Kwara State

scholarly journals Assessing the impacts of different land uses and soil and water conservation interventions on runoff and sediment yield at different scales in the central highlands of Ethiopia

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-15 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tesfaye Yaekob ◽  
Lulseged Tamene ◽  
Solomon G. Gebrehiwot ◽  
Solomon S. Demissie ◽  
Zenebe Adimassu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Soil Erosion ◽  
Sediment Yield ◽  
Water Conservation ◽  
Moisture Stress ◽  
Quantitative Information ◽  
Soil And Water Conservation ◽  
Land Uses ◽  
Central Highlands ◽  
The Government ◽  
Soil And Water

Abstract To tackle the problem of soil erosion and moisture stress, the government of Ethiopia introduced a yearly mass campaign where communities get together and implement various soil and water conservation (SWC) and water harvesting (WH) practices. Although the interventions are believed to have reduced soil erosion/sediment yield and enhanced surface and ground water, quantitative information on the impacts of various options at different scales is scarce. The objective of this study was to assess the impacts different land uses, SWC and WH interventions on water and suspended sediment yield (SSY) at plot and watershed scales in the central highlands of Ethiopia. Standard erosion plot experiments and hydrological stations were used to monitor the daily water and SSY during 2014 to 2017. The results show differences between treatments both at plot and watershed scales. Runoff and soil loss were reduced by an average 27 and 37%, respectively due to SWC practices at the plot level. Overall, SWC practices implemented at the watershed level reduced sediment yield by about 74% (in the year 2014), although the magnitude of sediment reduction due to the SWC interventions reduced over time. At both scales it was observed that as the number of years since SWC measures have been in place increased, their effectiveness declined due to the lack of maintenance. This study also revealed that extrapolating of plot data to watershed scale causes over or under estimation of net erosion.

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