AGRICULTURAL ORGANIZATIONS AND ADOPTION OF SOIL CONSERVATION PRACTICES AMONG SMALLHOLDER FARMERS IN OYO STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

<p><strong>Background</strong>. As part of efforts to reduce soil degradation and improve agricultural yield, farmers in the study area learned about various soil conservation practices through agricultural organizations. <strong>Objective.</strong> This study, therefore, investigated the impact of agricultural organizations on the adoption of soil conservation practices. <strong>Methodology.</strong> Through a multi-stage sampling procedure, the data collected were analyzed with the aid of descriptive statistics and a double hurdle regression model. <strong>Results. </strong>The descriptive results revealed that three conservation practices were majorly adopted in the study area, namely, cover crop (25 adopters), vegetative fallow (63 adopters) and mulch (83 adopters). The result further revealed significant differences in some socioeconomic characteristics between the categories of adopters in the study area, such as the age of the farmers, off-farm income, farming experience and the household size. However, the study concluded that the majority of the smallholder farmers were male, small scale and at their productive age. According to the first hurdle, the factors responsible for the adoption of the three soil conservation practices were; off-farm income, extension contact, farm size, years of education and membership in the agricultural organization. In the same vein, the factors that contributed to the intensity of soil conservation practices were membership of the agricultural organization, farm size, location of a valley on the farm land and household size. <strong>Implications.</strong> The paper adds evidence for a better understanding of the nexus between the agricultural organisation and the adoption of soil conservation practices<strong>. Conclusion.</strong> Based on these findings, the study recommends encouraging the training and strengthening of agricultural organizations for better adoption of soil conservation practices. In addition, effective strategies, programs and institutional structures that improve farmers' education, the frequency of extension contacts and off-farm income should be established.</p>