scholarly journals Influence of Training Method on Learning Ability of Smallholder Farmers: Case of Moisture Conservation Farming Training

Author(s):  
Mafuse Never ◽  
Munyati Vincent Tinashe ◽  
Gadzirayi Christopher ◽  
Muhau Edgar ◽  
Manyumwa Dadirayic

This study sought to identify factors that influence learning during training among small holder farmers on the new moisture conservation innovations (conservation farming) by Agricultural Technical and Extension Services (AGRITEX) and the objectives of the study was to identify the training methods used by AGRITEX officers in training  Conservation agriculture and to find the effectiveness of the training methods in transferring knowledge The study took the form of a case study. Six small holder farmers trained on the new moisture conservation innovations were researched on. The study showed that AGRITEX to certain extent gave farmers some chance to participate during training especially in carrying out demonstrations, field days and during look and learn tours.  The look and learn tours were appreciated most by many farmers as they were saying they can learn much by visiting other farmers. However, AGRITEX can further improve its training to improve learning among farmers through participatory course design which can help in the improvement of training for farmers to improve on practicing what they have trained.

2021 ◽  
pp. 002190962110588
Author(s):  
Emmanuel Ndhlovu

The socio-economic characterisation of resettled small-holder farmers under the Fast Track Land Reform Programme (FTLRP) in Zimbabwe has blind spots in relation to the emergent transformative social policy features such as ‘social cohesion’, ‘cooperation’, ‘protection’ and ‘accumulation’ which are equally important among land beneficiaries. Using the Sangwe farm, this article departs from the conventional use of the political economy, sustainable livelihoods, human rights-based and neo-patrimonial approaches to experiment with the transformative social policy approach. Using both quantitative and qualitative data in an exploratory research design, the article shows that viewed from the transformative social policy approach, the FTLRP was neither a resounding success nor a complete disaster. The programme actually produced mixed results. The article thus, recommends the use of in-depth, ideologically free and neutral approaches in its analysis so as to reveal its detailed outcomes. Additional studies in which existing land reform policies can be considered in the collective efforts of improving the transformative agenda of the FTLRP across the country are needed.


2018 ◽  
Vol 27 (3) ◽  
pp. 1-12
Author(s):  
Mafuse Never ◽  
Munyati Vincent Tinashe ◽  
Gadzirayi Christopher ◽  
Muhau Edgar ◽  
Manyumwa Dadirayi

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. 269-277
Author(s):  
Louis Nkembi ◽  
Njukeng Jetro Nkengafac ◽  
Tankou Christopher Mubeteneh

Smallholder farmer agricultural productivity in developing countries is more often diverse and limited by diverse constraints. For optimal agricultural production and income crops for diversification must be carefully selected and the constraints properly addressed. The objective of this study was to establish a list of the major crops planted in the Bamboutos mountain landscape and the constraints faced by the smallholder farmers. During a survey, 261 household heads responded were randomly selected and the questions administered to them. A majority of the household heads were men and were literate and most of them were younger than 55 years. Crop and livestock production were the main income generating activities of the respondents. Most of the farmers` land sizes were less than 5a and land ownership was through inheritance, purchase or rent. The small holder farmers in the study area planted a variety of both annual and perennial crops. These crops were sold, consumed or had ornamental/cultural values. The farmers faced a number of problems in animal and crop production with the most cited constraints being lack of inputs, lack of capital, bad roads and climate change. The results of this study suggest that crop diversification should be encouraged within the study area, policy and stakeholder intervention should concentrate on solving the cited constraints for sustainable food production and conservation of biodiversity. Keywords: Crops, Constraints, Diversification, Smallholders.


2021 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 177-188
Author(s):  
Joseph Masinde Wabwire

The main aim of this research was to establish the effect of socio-economic factors on utilization of formal financial services among smallholder farmers in Kenya. Farmers in low-income counties encounter a number of challenges among them limited access to finance. Financing agriculture, therefore, becomes a critical service to enable the full realization of the sector’s potential. In Kenya, the advent of  innovative banking models through commercial banks such as Equity bank have seen a higher proportion of the rural population who were previously unreached being reached by financial services. That said, the subscription to formal financial services by small holder farmers is still low and many of them either shy away from formal financial institutions or are simply ineligible for the services due to lack of a banking profile with the institutions. Cross-sectional survey research design was adopted. The target population for this study were smallholder farmers from Nakuru, Busia and Kirinyaga Counties in Kenya. The study sample was determined using simple random sampling. The sample size was 560 smallholder farmers. The questionnaire and secondary information were the key instruments for data collection. Quantitative data was analysed using multiple linear regression equations with the aid of SPSS software. The study established that the socio-economic factors significantly affected utilization of formal financial services by the smallholder farmers in the country. Policy Makers should therefore, encourage small holder farmers by way of incentives to disclose their annual income so as to improve their chances of accessing formal financial services that can expand their enterprises.


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