Assessment of Farmers Perception and Problems towards Adoption of Agroforestry Practices in Coastal Area of Bangladesh: A Study in Noakhali District

Agro-forestry is an excellent medium of land utilization for obtaining the maximum output. In both irrigated and rain-fed environments, agroforestry is practised to produce food, fuel, fodder, timber, fertiliser, and fibre. It also contributes to nutritional and ecological security, supports livelihoods, reduces poverty, and encourages resilient and productive cropping and farming environments. Adoption of different practices of agro forestry systems is very much crucial for sustaining the livelihood of resource poor farmers particularly in rainfed area. The present study was carried out in 10 blocks of Jammu district of Jammu and Kashmir in 2018 to identify different bottlenecks encountered by farmers in adoption of different agro-forestry practices. Multistage random sampling method was used for selection of 160 respondents from study area. The results show lack of awareness, lack of structural market and lack of interactions with respective governmental organizations were the major bottlenecks in adoption of different agro forestry practices for sustainable livelihood generation.

The study examined agroforestry practices among farmers in Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State, Nigeria. Data was collected from 100 randomly selected farmers with the use of structured questionnaire. The questionnaire focused on socio-economic characteristics of the farmers, level of awareness and adoption of agroforestry practices, types of agroforestry practices adopted, factors influencing the willingness of farmers to adopt agroforestry practices, common tree species retained in the farm and constraints faced by the farmers in adopting agroforestry-based farming. Data was analysed using frequency, percentage, mean and probit model. The study found that male (78.00%) dominated farming activities in the study area, the majority (96.00%) of the farmers is in the age group of 21-60 years, most of the farmers (87.00%) are educated and the majority (76.00%) of them had more than 5 years farming experience. The study revealed that farmers in the study area were aware and practicing different types of agroforestry system such as retaining of trees on the farm(33.00%), planting of trees along with the retained trees(28.00%),  taungya farming system(28.00%), and alley farming(20.00%). The study revealed that the adoption of agroforestry practices is high (79.00%) in the study areas. Retention of trees on farmland was mostly adopted (31.00%) while shifting cultivation is the least adopted (5.00%) agroforestry practice in the study area. The result of the probit model analysis showed that farm size (1.1122), farming experience (0.0231) and access to credit (0.1103) were the factors that significantly influence farmers’ willingness to adopt agroforestry practices at 10.00% probability level in the study area. The study also revealed that Parkia biglobosa and Vitellaria paradoxa were the most two tree species retained on farmlands by all the respondents (100%) while Eucalyptus camadulensis was the least grown tree species grown or retained by the farmers (12.00%) on their farmland in the study area. However the level of adoption of agroforestry practices in the study area was hampered by constraints such as high capital intensive nature of agroforestry practices (87.00%), poor extension service (80.00%), inadequate capital (77.00%), poor technical know-how of agroforestry practices (45.00%), land tenure system (36.00%) and lack of access to credit (13.00%). The study suggests that to enhance the adoption level of agroforestry practices among farmers in the study area, improved agroforestry extension services should be provided to farmers; workshops, seminars and symposia should be organized for adequate training of farmers to understand the techniques of agroforestry; and farmers should be encouraged to form cooperative societies so that they can have access to credit facility to boost their capital.  

Agroforestry has recently been recognized as a sustainable land-use system that can both address farmers' productive needs and provide ecosystem services to society such as biodiversity and carbon sequestration. Further investigation into the role played by social and psychological factors for adoption of agroforestry within a European context, is needed. This paper provides an analysis of farmers' behavioural drivers with respect to their adoption of agroforestry practices, using a survey of 387 farmers from Sweden. We extended the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB) model to incorporate the following behavioural factors: businessperson identity, network memberships, conservation objectives, as well as perceived economic benefits and labour constraints on actual adoption. Latent constructs in the model were first extracted with factor analysis before estimating their impact on adoption using logit models. The results indicate that network memberships improve the explanation of adoption and positively impact farmers' adoption of agroforestry, while the remaining behavioural variables were found to be statistically insignificant. We therefore recommend to encourage farmers' connection to formal networks in order to disseminate ideas, technical experience and guidance on agroforestry, thereby facilitating adoption. The lack of a significant influence of the TPB-factors in our study suggests that we are not able to confirm that TPB variables have an effect on actual adoption and may support the common criticism given to the model in relation to the well-known intention-behaviour “gap”.

The study assessed Farmers’ perception and adoption of agroforestry practices in Osun state, Nigeria. Multistage sampling technique was used for the study. Three local governments were randomly selected from each of the three senatorial districts in the state. Three farming communities were then randomly selected in each LGA why 10 respondents were purposively selected in each sampled community. Primary data were collected through semi- structured questionnaire to 270 respondents. In addition information was obtained from a key informant fin each sampled community with the use of interview schedule. The results of the study showed that there were divergent perceptions about agroforestry practice in the study area. 10% of the respondents in Osun west senatorial district were of the opinion that agroforestry practice is a scientific process that is difficult to practice, 62% perceived that it can improve farm productivity while 12% opined that the practice is not properly understood. Chi-square test (p<0.05) shows that there is significant association between respondents educational qualification and the adoption of agroforestry practices in all the senatorial districts of Osun state. Chi-square test (p< 0.05) also shows that there is a significant association between respondents; land ownership and the adoption of Agroforestry practices in all the senatorial districts of the study area. The adopted agro-forestry practices in the study area include retention of trees on farmland, planting of trees on boundaries, shifting cultivation and home gardening. Challenges faced by farmers in the practice of agroforestry practice among others are; lack of technical knowhow, small land holdings, fire outbreak and poor extension service. More farmers can be encouraged to practice agroforestry through improved agroforestry extension service to the farmers, encouraging farmers to form cooperative groups, organizing training programmes for farmers in agroforestry and free distribution of tree seedlings to farmers.

Agroforestry (AF) is an integrated farming system that offers both tangible and intangible benefits. In many developing countries like South Sudan, where resources for agricultural development are limited, farmers still tend to increase their motivation to incorporate woody perennials into agroforestry practices. However, several studies have shown that socioeconomic and institutional factors play crucial roles in farmers' decision-making processes regarding agroforestry adoption. Therefore, this study aimed to identify the key factors influencing farmers' adoption decisions in Rajaf Payam, Juba County, South Sudan, by applying probit and multivariate probit regression analyses. Since different agroforestry practices may have varying impacts on farmers’ adoption decisions, a multivariate probit approach ensures that these practices are analyzed simultaneously, compared to using a simple probit model applied to a binary dummy variable of each agroforestry practice separately. The data were collected from 348 randomly selected households using structured questionnaires administered to household heads. Key informant interviews (KIIs) and focus group discussions (FGDs) were also conducted. The main findings revealed that gender, access to credit, access to quality and improved seeds, household size, distance to market, mode of farmland acquisition, extension contact, livestock ownership, and parcel size significantly affected agroforestry adoption. The study also found that common agroforestry practices included scattered trees on croplands (44.60%), homegardens (22.44%), and boundary planting (16.34%). These practices mainly involved fruit tree species such as Mangifera indica (26.9%), Citrus sinensis (15.8%), Carica papaya (10.1%), and Azadirachta indica (9.2%), which were primarily used for food provision (24.4%), shade (7.2%), and protective/windbreak purposes (6.6%). Moreover, the results indicated that the major constraints hindering adoption were a lack of low-cost, quality inputs (ranked 1st), high rates of insecurity (ranked 2nd), a lack of capital (ranked 3rd), and insufficient labour (ranked 4th). Overall, to scale up and sustainably increase adoption rates, targeted efforts to promote agroforestry interventions should be prioritized, including mobilizing and allocating more resources to these practices.

IntroductionDespite several reports emphasizing the role of agroforestry in enhancing rural livelihoods, promoting sustainable development, protecting the environment, and supporting climate change mitigation and adaptation, little is known about rural households’ perceptions of the different benefits of agroforestry and the extent of adoption of its different agroforestry technologies, including contour farming with tree planting, alley cropping, woodlot and timber production, integration of fruits, nuts, medicinal trees, home gardens, fruits on farmland, boundary cropping, and live fences. Therefore, this study aimed to examine farmers’ perceptions and adoption of agroforestry practices as well as the factors influencing these actions in the Banja district of Northwestern Ethiopia.MethodsA cross-sectional research design was conducted in three kebeles of the Banja district, encompassing a sample of 340 households. The study employed a quantitative and qualitative approach, with multi-stage sampling technique results employed to select sample households using a binary logit model.Result and discussionsThe study found that 59% of respondents perceived agroforestry as advantageous, with 91.57, 75, and 60.5% recognizing its benefits for farm productivity, household income, and food security, respectively. The remaining 41% of sample households were not perceived. Approximately 56% of the respondents adopted different agroforestry practices, mainly live fences and taungya. The results of the binary logit model indicated that the adoption of agroforestry practices was influenced by factors such as sex, educational status, access to extension services, family size, soil fertility, farmland size, and slope of farmland. In contrast, age, distance to farmland, land tenure, livestock size, farm experience, and market distance were not significant. The study recommends that extension workers should strengthen rural education, improve extension services, focus on soil fertility through soil and water conservation practices, and ensure sustainability through regular monitoring, evaluation, and implementation of diverse agroforestry practices, thereby ensuring environmental sustainability and improving livelihoods at the household, community, and national levels.

This paper is mainly focused on identifying the socio economic and institutional factors influencing agroforestry adoption in Southern Province. Field survey was conducted during July to September, 2019 using structured questionnaire. This study was carried out in four districts in southern province of Rwanda. The number of respondents involved in the study was 650 farmers. A descriptive survey design was used in this study. For the selection of the sample, the study adopted a stratified random sampling technique and simple random technique. Binary logit regression model has been used to determine the factors affecting farmers adopting agroforestry. Finally, Binary regression analysis showed no significant association between the adoption of agroforestry practices and respondent’s age, gender, marital status, farming experience or income range of the respondents. On the other hand, there is a positive significant association between the adoption of agroforestry practices and household size is 0.00 p-value as well as the farm size of the respondents. It is expected that farmers with larger household size are more likely to adopt agroforestry practices than farmers with smaller household size and also shows that most of the farmers who were more likely to adopt agroforestry had a bigger land acreage for planting more trees.

A mail-out survey questionnaire was developed by the Agroforestry group at the University of Guelph to determine the level of awareness and interest in the adoption of agroforestry systems by landusers from four townships in Wellington County, Ontario. The questionnaire investigated: (1) the current level of knowledge regarding windbreaks, woodlots and plantations, intereropping, riparian plantations and silvipasture, (2) the present level of participation in each of these systems on-farm, (3) the perceived benefits and/or drawbacks of each of these initiatives with respect to total farm income, income diversity, land rehabilitation, land value/equity, soil/water conservation, labour intensity, overhead and return on the term of investment. The majority of respondents were familiar with conventional agroforestry systems such as windbreaks and woodlots/plantations (80%, 62% respectively), therefore the level of interest in the adoption of these practices was significant (74%, 66% respectively). Response rates were lower for silvipasture, riparian plantations and intercropping, most likely as result of the low level of familiarity with these practices (20%, 32%, 4% respectively). Respondents commented that agroforestry systems would have a neutral effect on farm income, and would increase land stewardship. In some cases, interested landusers indicated a willingness to participate in agroforestry systems even though they anticipated increases in overhead and labour intensity; however, this was only true if they held land stewardship as a priority. Landusers were more concerned with the economic aspects of agroforestry, as a determinant to the future adoptability of particular practices. Age, gender, farm operation and farm size were not correlated with the adoption of agroforestry systems. The success of agroforestry programs on farms in the study area is largely dependent on the attitudes and willingness of landusers to participate in non-traditional agricultural systems.

Adoption of agroforestry practices in Bangladesh as a climate change mitigation option: Investment, drivers, and SWOT analysis perspectives

The present study was undertaken in North Western Zone of Tamil Nadu, to analyze the factors determining the agro-forestry and problems faced by them in adoption of agroforestry practices. Primary data were collected through a pre-structured questionnaire from a sample of 300 respondents who were selected using multi-stage random sampling technique. Data analysis was done by using simple percentages, Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) multiple regression analysis, perception index and weighted score method. Most of the farmers in study area have positive perception towards adoption of agroforestry practices. The goal of this study was to determine the characteristics that influence the adoption of agroforestry by small and marginal farmers. Crop diversification, Increasing soil fertility, Improve soil and water conservation, Long time taken to get income from forestry, high returns and Reduce chances of crop failure were the major motivational factor, whereas small landholding size, lack of awareness and poor knowledge, poor market accessibility, lack of subsidy, credit facility, lack of good quality planting material and longer gestation period of trees were the major problems faced by the farmers in the study area. Thus, study suggested that farmers can be encouraged to practice agroforestry through improved mobilizing farmers to join groups, improving the quality and coverage of extension services, consideration of gender issues and intensifying agro forestry training among farmers with low levels of education groups and distribution of quality planting material to farmers.

This study presents farmers’ knowledge and attitudes towards the adoption of agroforestry in Akinyele Local Government Area of Oyo State. A multistage random sampling technique was used to administer the questionnaires to a total of 50 respondents. Data collected were analyzed using both descriptive and inferential statistics. The demographic factors analyzed showed that the majority of respondents were males (60.8%) and possess married (54.2%). Majority of the respondents (66%) do not practice agroforestry and possessed low knowledge of agroforestry practices. Respondents’ attitudes towards the practice were inadequate. Furthermore, knowledge of agroforestry was found to influence the willingness to adopt the practice, attitudes towards agroforestry practice also influence its adoption in the study area. Based on the findings, this study recommends that extension agents and other stakeholders should intensify effort to pass down adequate knowledge on the practice and advantages of agroforestry to farmers in the simplest form it can be well understood, to improve their attitudes and increase their rate of adoption of agroforestry practices.&#x0D; Keywords: Farmers, Knowledge, Attitude, Adoption, Agroforestry and Akinyele LGA

This paper presents empirical evidence on the influence of economic factors on the adoption of agroforestry practices by the farmers in Haridwar, India. An exploratory survey was done to collect data from all three tehsils of Haridwar, one of the important farming regions of north India. Total 426 farmers were selected using random sampling at multistage level among which 365 were agroforestry adopters and rest 61 were non adopters. Data were analyzed using Chi 2 test of independence. Results have shown that land holding, land ownership, farming as main occupation, sources of income, tree produces as fuel, monthly income status, importance of income from farm, sale of farm produces significantly influence while earning member in the family does not influence adoption of agroforestry. Overall agroforestry farmers were found in better economic conditions than that of non agroforestry farmers who were practicing agriculture alone. Research findings also indicated that farmers with low poor level of income could not invest in long term projects of tree plantation in agroforestry. They could be provided finance support from relevant authority side which could encourage them to adopt agroforestry. Since, the respondents had an agreed understanding of all studied economic parameters. Therefore, each of the studied variables should be addressed at both; more or less to positive or negative way to which they affect the farmers’ decision to adopt agroforestry practices.

This study assessed the adoption of agroforestry practices among farmers in Gwaram Local Government Area of Jigawa State, Nigeria. The multistage sampling procedure was used to select 120 farmers from four (4) out of the six (6) districts in the Local Government Area for the study. Primary data were collected through the use of questionnaires and oral interview and were subjected to both descriptive and logit regression analysis. Findings from the study revealed that the mean age of the farmers was 39 years. Majority of the farmers were male and mostly married. The study also showed that majority of the respondents had at least one form of education with a mean farming experience of 7 years and a mean farm size of 3.5 hectares. A greater percentage of the respondents acquired their farmlands through inheritance. The greater proportion of the farmers affirmed to have had contact with extension agents three times in a year and the majority of them aware of agroforestry. The average number of agroforestry practices adopted by the farmers is approximately 2 with home garden adopted by the majority of the farmers. The results also revealed that the mean annual income of respondents is N113,529. The logit regression result showed that educational level, income, membership of cooperatives and land tenure had a significant relationship with the adoption of agroforestry practices at different levels of probabilities. The major constraints to agroforestry practices as opined by the respondents include; land and tree tenure rights, long gestation period to obtain benefits, lack of knowledge and skills in agroforestry, low awareness of agroforestry practice and the high cost associated in adopting agroforestry. The study recommended the formulation of a good land use policy so that farmers can acquire land titles to guarantee the security of their land.

This study investigates the perceived efficacy of agroforestry as a climate change mitigation strategy and other motivating factors influencing farmers’ adoption of agroforestry practices, specifically in Oyo State, southwestern Nigeria. A survey involving 400 respondents utilized structured questionnaires to gather data. Statistical analyses, including independent samples t-test and one-way ANOVA, were employed to assess differences in agroforestry practices based on gender and age/education sub-groups. The relationship between perceived efficacy, cues to agroforestry, and agroforestry practices was examined using the Pearson correlation coefficient. Findings indicate that while 83.0% of respondents had previously engaged in agroforestry, current engagement reduced sharply to 42.8%. Gender significantly influenced agroforestry practices, with women at a disadvantage ( p &lt; 0.05), whereas age and education did not show significant effects ( p &gt; 0.05). Perceived efficacy showed an insignificant relationship with agroforestry practices ( r = 0.069, p &gt; 0.05), contrasting with cues to agroforestry which exhibited a significant positive correlation ( r = 0.379, p &lt; 0.05). Despite the substantial perceived efficacy of agroforestry in mitigating climate change, this perception does not translate into actual agroforestry practices among farmers. The study underscores the importance of introducing cues and prompts to bridge the gap between ideal perceptions and behaviour/adoption, thereby enhancing the efficacy of agroforestry as a climate change mitigation strategy, particularly in developing contexts like Nigeria.

Adoption of climate-smart agriculture practices are believed to have significantly lessened the devastating impact of climate change on agriculture. However, in countries like Ethiopia, the adoption and use level of climate-smart agriculture practices remains low. The understanding of farmers’ levels of CSA practice adoption and influencing factors is therefore crucial. The goal of the study is to evaluate the degree to which various CSA practices were being used in the study area, as well as adoption determinants. The study was conducted in Welmera district, Oromia, Ethiopia. Three kebeles were chosen from the district, and a random sample of 306 farmers was picked. We used a cross-sectional household survey, a focus group discussion, and interviews with key informants. A multivariate probit model was employed to investigate the factors influencing the adoption of multiple climate-smart agriculture practices. According to the result, conservation agriculture, integrated soil fertility management, and crop diversification are the most often used CSA practices. The results also revealed that male farmers outperformed female farmers in terms of crop diversity and improved animal feed and feeding practice adoption. The age of farmers has a considerable and unfavorable impact on their likelihood of adopting improved soil fertility management and crop diversification practices. However, it has a positive and considerable impact on the adoption of agroforestry practices. With regards to economic factors, having a relatively big farmland area considerably enhances the adoption of conservation agriculture, enhances soil fertility management and crop diversity, and improves livestock feed and feeding methods and post-harvest technology practice. Improved livestock feed and feeding are more likely to be used with higher farm income. Having a significant number of animals strongly promotes the adoption of conservation agriculture, and access to financial services positively impacts agroforestry, diversification of crops, and postharvest technology practice adoption. Furthermore, institutional factors including access to agricultural extension services and training were discovered to be important and beneficial for crop diversification; similarly, access to field day participation was discovered to have a significant and positive impact on the adoption of conservation agriculture and improved soil fertility management practices. It is critical to raise awareness about climate change among farmers and experts, as well as to incorporate location-specific CSA practices into agricultural programs.