scholarly journals Adoption of Conservation Agriculture in Zambia – The Case of Chongwe District

2016 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 77 ◽  
Author(s):  
Abson Chompolola ◽  
Oliver Kaonga
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Sustainability ◽  
Conservation Agriculture ◽  
Social Characteristics ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Extension System ◽  
Frequency Of Contact ◽  
Small Scale Farmers ◽  
Behavioural Aspects ◽  
Structured Questionnaire

<p>The Zambian government and its cooperating partners have been trying to promote the use of conservation agriculture for improved food security and promotion of environmental sustainability. The methods used to promote conservation agriculture however are not adequately informed because no Zambia-specific studies have been done to explain adoption behaviour. This study aimed at explaining the factors that affect the adoption of conservation agriculture in Zambia using a case study.</p><p>A cross section survey of 200 randomly selected small scale farmers in Chongwe district was conducted using a structured questionnaire. Information collected included demographic characteristics of participating households, economic, as well as social characteristics. Respondents also provided information on the farming practices they are currently using vis a vis conservation agriculture.</p>A decision model was estimated using logistic regression and the results indicate that the adoption of conservation agriculture in the survey area is basically influenced by ownership of draft power, availability of labour, and the frequency of contact with the farmer support extension system. Potential to increase the adoption rate is plenty, but can only be tapped into if strategies and policies take into account the behavioural aspects of the adoption of the technology.

scholarly journals Assessment of adoption potential for smallholder conservation agriculture in Pandamatenga vertisols of northern Botswana

2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 001-010
Author(s):  
Kapweke Kandondi ◽  
Davis Samzala Marumo ◽  
Benedict Kayombo ◽  
Thembeka Mpuisang
Keyword(s):  
Conservation Agriculture ◽  
Demographic Characteristics ◽  
Descriptive Statistics ◽  
Environmental Benefits ◽  
Farm Size ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Positive Perception ◽  
Small Scale Farmers ◽  
High Level ◽  
Structured Questionnaire

The adoption of conservation agriculture among small-scale farmers is still low despite the proven economic and environmental benefits of the technology. This study was conducted at Pandamatenga of Chobe District in northern Botswana. The main aim of the study was to determine the factors that influence the adoption of Conservation Agriculture (CA) in the study area. A structured questionnaire was used for the collection of the socio- economic and demographic characteristics of the sampled smallholder rainfed farmers. The socio - economic characteristics of the smallholder rainfed farmers included land holding size (ha), labour availability, livestock possession, education level, and farming experience. Demographic characteristics considered in the study included smallholder rainfed farmers’ age, marital status, gender, and average number of family members in the household. Data was analysed using descriptive statistics and the logistic regression model. The results have shown that gender and farm size had a significant influence on smallholder rainfed farmers’ decision to adopt CA technologies in Pandamatenga. Smallholder rainfed farmers had a positive perception and a high level of acceptance of CA technologies that were tried in their area.

A Novel NGO Approach to Facilitate the Adoption of Sustainable Innovations in Low-Income Countries: Lessons from Small-scale Farms in Nicaragua

2018 ◽  
Vol 40 (3) ◽  
pp. 443-461 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bruno Dyck ◽  
Bruno S. Silvestre
Keyword(s):  
Low Income ◽  
Conservation Agriculture ◽  
Theory And Practice ◽  
Low Income Countries ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Agronomic Practices ◽  
Small Scale Farmers

There are about 500 million small-scale farms in low-income countries on the planet. Farmers have been slow to adopt a threefold set of sustainable agronomic practices known as “conservation agriculture” (CA) that have been shown to double productivity. Our study of a novel CA project in Nicaragua, organized based on principles that counter convention, may point to improved ways of understanding and managing sustainable innovations in low-income countries. In particular, by connecting core ideas from the innovation literature to the literature that explores the role of intermediaries such as NGOs, our case study suggests that the efficacy of NGOs to facilitate the adoption of sustainable innovations by small-scale farmers in these settings may be enhanced if NGOs employ non-centrist approaches in order to address the critical uncertainties associated with such innovations. We discuss how our findings contradict some of long-standing arguments in the literature, and their implications for theory and practice.

MECHANIZATION OF POTATO GRADING ON SMALL-SCALE FARMS: A CASE STUDY FROM PERU

2005 ◽  
Vol 41 (1) ◽  
pp. 81-92 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. P. BUTLER ◽  
T. BERNET ◽  
K. MANRIQUE
Keyword(s):  
Developing Countries ◽  
Market Integration ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Farming System ◽  
Agricultural Products ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Critical Aspect ◽  
Small Scale Farmers ◽  
Important Cash Crop

Potatoes are an important cash crop for small-scale producers worldwide. The move away from subsistence to commercialized farming, combined with the rapid growth in demand for processed agricultural products in developing countries, implies that small-scale farmers and researchers alike must begin to respond to these market changes and consider post-harvest treatment as a critical aspect of the potato farming system. This paper presents and assesses a low cost potato-grading machine that was designed explicitly to enable small-scale potato growers to sort tubers by size for supply to commercial processors. The results of ten experiments reveal that the machine achieves an accuracy of sort similar to commercially available graders. The machine, which uses parallel conical rollers, has the capacity to grade different tuber shapes and to adjust sorting classes, making it suitable for locations with high potato diversity. Its relatively low cost suggests that an improved and adapted version of this machine might enhance market integration of small-scale potato producers not only in Peru, but in other developing countries as well.

scholarly journals Bt maize for small scale farmers: A case study

2011 ◽  
Vol 4 (13) ◽  
Author(s):  
DP Keetch ◽  
A Ngqaka ◽  
R Akanbi ◽  
P Mahlanga
Keyword(s):  
Small Scale ◽  
Bt Maize ◽  
Small Scale Farmers

Talent and Africa Standing on Its Own Feet

2021 ◽  
pp. 54-73
Author(s):  
Meleckidzedeck Khayesi
Keyword(s):  
Community Development ◽  
Past Research ◽  
Dairy Goat ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Family Needs ◽  
Case Study Method ◽  
Western Kenya ◽  
Agricultural Enterprises ◽  
Small Scale Farmers

The objective of this case study is to examine how a farmer, Mr. Alex Omwela Adala, has utilised his talent to create self-reinforcing agricultural enterprises to stand on his own feet. This study addresses a gap in past research on entrepreneurship which tended to focus on profiles of entrepreneurs as well as development and outcomes of investment in businesses. Starting literally from scratch, this farmer has currently nine self-reinforcing agricultural enterprises that have enabled him to cater for his family needs and provide technical support to other small-scale farmers. He has played a key role in founding and managing the Dairy Goat Association of Kenya, Western Kenya Branch. The contribution of this chapter is in using a case study method and a transformative story to learn about talent exploitation for individual and community development. The chapter does not only provide an approach of data collection but also experiential insights and wisdom of an entrepreneur who has travelled the path of investment for 30 years.

Combining labour market and unemployment policies with environmental sustainability? A cross-national study on ecosocial innovations

2020 ◽  
Vol 36 (1) ◽  
pp. 42-56 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ingo Stamm ◽  
Aila-Leena Matthies ◽  
Tuuli Hirvilammi ◽  
Kati Närhi
Keyword(s):  
Labour Market ◽  
Environmental Sustainability ◽  
Organizational Level ◽  
National Study ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Individual Level ◽  
Environmental Goals ◽  
Cross National Study ◽  
Cross National

AbstractLabour market and unemployment policies in particular are rarely connected to issues of environmental sustainability. In the present article, the link is examined by focusing on ecosocial innovations in four European countries – Finland, Germany, Belgium and Italy. These innovations are small-scale associations, cooperatives or organizations that create new integrative practices combining both social and environmental goals. By asking how their social practices are linked with labour market and unemployment policies, we explore the scope for new ecosocial policies. The results of this cross-national case study lead to three lessons to be learnt for a future ecosocial welfare state: at the sectoral level, organizational level and individual level. In summary, many valuable ideas, instruments and programmes towards sustainability already exist in the field, but they are not yet integrated in the current labour market and unemployment policies.

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