scholarly journals Farmers Characteristics in Relation to Soil and Water Conservation: The Case of Yongdeng County, China

2020 ◽  
pp. 33-41
Author(s):  
Samuel Adingo ◽  
Xiaodan Li ◽  
Liu Xue-Lu ◽  
Frederick Kwame Yeboah
Keyword(s):  
Water Conservation ◽  
Positive Impact ◽  
Gansu Province ◽  
Soil And Water Conservation ◽  
Farm Size ◽  
Primary Data ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Full Potential ◽  
Use Of Resources ◽  
Soil And Water

Many soil and water conservation technologies have been promoted and spread to encourage the sustainable use of resources by small-scale farmers, but soil degradation continues intensively. The objective of this study therefore, was to identify the measures of Soil and Water Conservation, the factors that inform the adoption and use Soil and Water Conservation measures and evaluate the limitations to realize and maintain of these conservation practices. This study was done in Yongdeng County which falls under the governance of the city-level prefecture of Lanzhou, the capital of Gansu Province. One hundred farmers were randomly selected. Primary data was obtained through interviews and group discussion with farmers, and agricultural extension workers and field survey. The results revealed that the level of education and farm size did not affect the use of SWC measures. Unlike formal education, membership of the group of farmers was significant and had positive correlation with SWC measures. SWC education and training was significant and had a positive impact on the use of SWC measures. The study found that SWC structures commonly used by farmers in the study area include terraces (30%), contour ploughing (20%) and the use of drains. The agronomic practices commonly used are agroforestry, crop rotation and the use of grass strips. Farmers identified poverty, ignorance and lack of technical advice as the main obstacles to realizing the full potential of soil and water conservation in the area. Poorly laid out soil conservation structures were also accelerating soil erosion. These results show that, in order to ensure adequate soil and water conservation, particular attention must be paid to institutional and economic factors. Also, to encourage farmers’ participation in education and extension training on SWC, it is vital to strengthen the relationship between extension workers and farmers.

scholarly journals The effects of farmers’ adoption behavior of soil and water conservation measures on agricultural output

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (5) ◽  
pp. 599-615
Author(s):  
Xiaohui Huang ◽  
Qian Lu ◽  
Fei Yang
Keyword(s):  
Soil Erosion ◽  
Water Conservation ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Positive Impact ◽  
Soil And Water Conservation ◽  
Agricultural Output ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Conservation Measures ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Soil And Water

Purpose This paper aims to build a theoretical model of the impact of farmers’ adoption behavior of soil and water conservation measures on the agricultural output to analyze the impact of farmers’ adoption behavior of soil and water conservation measures on agricultural output. Design/methodology/approach Based on the field survey data of 808 farmers households in three provinces (regions) of the Loess Plateau, this paper using the endogenous switching regression model to analyze the effect of farmers’ adoption behavior of soil and water conservation measures on agricultural output. Findings Soil erosion has a significant negative impact on agricultural output, and soil erosion has a significant positive impact on farmers’ adoption of soil and water conservation measures. Farmers adopt soil and water conservation measures such as engineering measures, biological measures and tillage measures to cope with soil erosion, which can increase agricultural output. Based on the counterfactual hypothesis, if farmers who adopt soil and water conservation measures do not adopt the corresponding soil and water conservation measures, their average output per ha output will decrease by 2.01%. Then, if farmers who do not adopt soil and water conservation measures adopt the corresponding soil and water conservation measures, their average output per ha output will increase by 12.12%. Government support and cultivated land area have a significant positive impact on farmers’ adoption behavior of soil and water conservation measures. Research limitations/implications The research limitation is the lack of panel data. Practical implications Soil erosion has a significant negative impact on agricultural output, and soil erosion has a significant positive impact on farmers’ adoption of soil and water conservation measures. Farmers adopt soil and water conservation measures such as engineering measures, biological measures and tillage measures to cope with soil erosion, which can increase agricultural output. Social implications The conclusion provides a reliable empirical basis for the government to formulate and implement relevant policies. Originality/value The contributions of this paper are as follows: the adoption behavior of soil and water conservation measures and agricultural output are included into the same analytical framework for empirical analysis, revealing the influencing factors of farmers’ adoption behavior of soil and water conservation measures and their output effects, enriching existing research. Using endogenous switching regression model and introducing instrumental variables to overcome the endogenous problem between the adoption behavior of soil and water conservation measures and agricultural output, and to analyze the influencing factors of farmers’ adoption behavior of soil and water conservation measures and its impact on agricultural output. Using the counter-factual idea to ensure that the two matched individuals have the same or similar attributes, to evaluate the average treatment effect of the behavior of soil and water conservation measures, to estimate the real impact of adaptation measures on agricultural output as accurately as possible and to avoid misleading policy recommendations.

scholarly journals Factors Influencing Adoption of Improved Structural Soil and Water Conservation Measures in Eastern Ethiopia

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Muluken Gezahegn Wordofa ◽  
Eric N. Okoyo ◽  
Eliso Erkalo
Keyword(s):  
Natural Resources ◽  
Water Conservation ◽  
Smallholder Farmers ◽  
Structured Interview ◽  
Soil And Water Conservation ◽  
Primary Data ◽  
Eastern Ethiopia ◽  
Factors Influencing ◽  
Household Members ◽  
Soil And Water

Abstract Background Agriculture remains to be the leading sector that contributes enormously to economic development in Ethiopia. Despite its significant contribution to livelihoods, the sector faces persistent challenges due to depletion of natural resources and soil erosion that resulted in diminishing crop and livestock productivity. In order to curb the effects of land degradation, the Government of Ethiopia has been taking serious measures to expand Soil and Water Conservation (SWC) practices throughout the country. Despite the efforts made, the adoption of new practices by farmers have been generally low. This study was aimed to assess factors influencing smallholder farmers’ decision on the use of improved structural SWC practices in Haramaya district, eastern Ethiopia. A multi-stage sampling technique was used to select 120 farm households and 248 plots. A structured interview schedule was used to collect primary data. Descriptive and inferential statistics and Multinomial Logit (MNL) regression model were used to analyze the data. Results The key findings showed that a host of socio-demographic, economic and institutional factors significantly affected smallholders’ decision to adopt improved structural SWC. In this study, we found that education, farming experience, plot area, distance of the plot from dwelling, number of economically active household members, and extension contact were the significant predictors of using improved SWC structures. Conclusions Based on our findings, we conclude that improved SWC measures should be scaled up through a concerted effort of extension workers, local administration and other relevant non-state actors. In particular, the extension system should encourage rural communities on sustainable management and use of natural resources. Moreover, the need to create learning opportunities through facilitating appropriate training programs for farmers and focusing on proper management of available economically active household members should be emphasized.

scholarly journals Factors Influencing Adoption of Improved Structural Soil and Water Conservation Measures in Eastern Ethiopia

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Muluken Gezahegn Wordofa ◽  
Eric N. Okoyo ◽  
Eliso Erkalo
Keyword(s):  
Natural Resources ◽  
Water Conservation ◽  
Smallholder Farmers ◽  
Structured Interview ◽  
Soil And Water Conservation ◽  
Primary Data ◽  
Eastern Ethiopia ◽  
Factors Influencing ◽  
Household Members ◽  
Soil And Water

Abstract Background: Agriculture remains to be the leading sector that contributes enormously to economic development in Ethiopia. Despite its significant contribution to livelihoods, the sector faces persistent challenges due to depletion of natural resources and soil erosion that resulted in diminishing crop and livestock productivity. In order to curb the effects of land degradation, the Government of Ethiopia has been taking serious measures to expand Soil and Water Conservation (SWC) practices throughout the country. Despite the efforts made, the adoption of new practices by farmers have been generally low. This study was aimed at assessing factors influencing smallholder farmers’ decision on the use of improved structural SWC practices in Haramaya district, eastern Ethiopia. A multi-stage sampling technique was used to select 120 farm households and 248 plots. A structured interview schedule was used to collect primary data. Descriptive and inferential statistics and Multinomial Logit (MNL) regression model were used to analyze the data. Results: The key findings showed that a host of socio-demographic, economic and institutional factors significantly affected smallholders’ decision to adopt improved structural SWC. In this study, we found that education, farming experience, plot area, distance of the plot from dwelling unit, number of economically active household members, and extension contact were the significant predictors of using improved SWC structures. Conclusions: Based on our findings, we concluded that improved SWC measures should be scaled up through a concerted effort of extension workers, local administration and other relevant non-state actors. In particular, the extension system should encourage rural communities on sustainable management and use of natural resources. Moreover, the need to create learning opportunities through facilitating appropriate educational and training programs for farmers and focusing on proper management of available economically active household members should be emphasized.

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.

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 Vulnerability Assessment of Soil and Water Loss in Loess Plateau and Its Impact on Farmers’ Soil and Water Conservation Adaptive Behavior

2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (12) ◽  
pp. 4773 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiaohui Huang ◽  
Lili Wang ◽  
Qian Lu
Keyword(s):  
Soil Erosion ◽  
Loess Plateau ◽  
Water Loss ◽  
Water Conservation ◽  
Positive Impact ◽  
Soil And Water Conservation ◽  
The Loess Plateau ◽  
Soil And Water Loss ◽  
Conservation Technology ◽  
Soil And Water

Analyzing vulnerability and adaptation to soil and water loss is an important part of the study on the human–environment relationship in the Loess Plateau. It has also provided a new perspective for studying the farmers’ adoption behavior of soil and water conservation technology in the soil erosion area of the Loess Plateau. Based on the Turner vulnerability framework, this paper constructs a household-scale index system of soil and water loss vulnerability in the Loess Plateau and evaluates the soil and water loss vulnerability in the Loess Plateau using the field survey data of the Loess Plateau applied entropy method. Finally, we use the binary logistic model to estimate the impact mechanism of farmers’ soil erosion vulnerability on farmers’ adoption behavior of soil and water conservation technology. The main conclusions are as follows: (1) In the total sample, susceptibility > exposure > adaptability, whereas in the Shaanxi and Gansu subsample, susceptibility > adaptability > exposure. The Ningxia subsample was similar to the total sample. For each index, Ningxia > Gansu > Shaanxi; (2) The exposure and susceptibility of soil and water loss have a positive impact on farmers’ adoption behavior of soil and water conservation technology, and natural capital has a positive impact on farmers’ adoption behavior of soil and water conservation technology. Physical capital has a positive impact on farmers’ adoption behavior of biological measures. Financial capital has a negative impact on farmers’ adoption behavior of biological measures and farming measures. Social capital has a positive impact on farmers’ adoption behavior of engineering measures and biological measures; (3) Overall, the marginal effect of the adoption behavior of farmers’ soil and water conservation techniques, adaptability > susceptibility > exposure. Therefore, it is necessary to strengthen the monitoring of soil and water loss, encourage the government and farmers to respond in time, and reduce the losses caused by soil erosion. Enriching the capital endowment of farmers, breaking through the endowment restriction of farmers’ adoption of soil and water conservation technology.

scholarly journals ADOPTION AND IMPACTS OF NATURAL RESOURCE CONSERVATION IN ARSI ZONE, ETHIOPIA

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (7) ◽  
pp. 234-270
Author(s):  
Tamrat Gebiso Challa
Keyword(s):  
Water Conservation ◽  
Crop Production ◽  
Positive Impact ◽  
Educational Background ◽  
Average Treatment Effect ◽  
Soil And Water Conservation ◽  
Population Pressure ◽  
Arsi Zone ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Soil And Water

Land degradation in Ethiopia alone accounts for 8% of the global total degradation. The most serious problem concerning country’s land resources, however, is the removal of fertile topsoil by water. Population pressure which results to intensive cultivation, overgrazing deforestation and inappropriate land use practices are the most serious cause of soil erosion in Ethiopia which is more severe in the highlands areas where, 85% of the human and 77% of livestock population are living and agriculture is intensive. To reverse the situation the government of Ethiopia designed policy and programs which are holistic and landscape wide approaches. Based on the strategies, different soil and water management programs have been implemented throughout the country and different practices were introduced to farmers as well for more than ten years. The central questions of this research were, whether farmers adopt these soil and water conservation practices; and if yes, do these soil and water conservation interventions have an impact in improving crop production in value per hectare and gross annual income of participating households? If yes, how much is the impact? Based on above objectives, the research was conducted in Arsi zone and data was collected from 202 respondents in representative districts. Both adopters and counterfactual respondents were included. Educational background of households, farming experiences, size of landholding, slop of plot, degree of vulnerability of the districts and extension contact significantly and positively affect adoption probability while land fragmentation was significant and negatively influencing adoption of soil and water conservation (SWC) activity. Though it was not statistically significant, SWC adoption has positive impact on productivity, gross production and income of the household. The average treatment effect on treated (ATT) was 6358.86 ETB of total household income which could be proxy for farm level productivity and 85.35 quintal of total annual farm production.

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