Abstract

Improved crop production forms an integral part of the intervention proposals of the UN Millennium Project to eradicate poverty and hunger in southern Africa. The objective of this study was to collect information on socio-economic aspects and farming practices that could affect adoption of improved agricultural practices. This study highlights the importance of appreciating the complexity of agricultural systems into which development agencies and researchers want to introduce improved technologies. Farmer surveys conducted in dryland and irrigation systems in Limpopo province of South Africa were used to describe the farming communities and identify factors that may affect adoption of improved crop production practices. Surveys involved 367 farmers in seven villages between 2000 and 2003. Surprisingly the incidence of mechanised cultivation was very high. Adoption of new technology in the form of Napier grass trap crops was significantly higher amongst farmers that relied only on farming as a source of income. There were no significant relationships between adoption of improved technologies and farmer age, off-farm income and cultivation methods. These factors are used to illustrate the complexity of agricultural systems and how certain aspects may affect and the role that certain farmer profiles may play in adoption/non-adoption of improved crop production strategies. It is concluded that there may be a lack of need and political will to develop strategies to improve crop production. Key words: Habitat management, pest management, technology adoption, push-pull.

Highlights

  • Farming systems in southern Africa need to become more sustainable and productive to improve livelihoods of smallholder farmers

  • Farmer surveys conducted in dryland and irrigation systems in Limpopo province of South Africa were used to describe the farming communities and identify factors that may affect adoption of improved crop production practices

  • These factors are used to illustrate the complexity of agricultural systems and how certain aspects may affect and the role that certain farmer profiles may play in adoption/non-adoption of improved crop production strategies

Read more

Summary

Introduction

Farming systems in southern Africa need to become more sustainable and productive to improve livelihoods of smallholder farmers. Productivity of subsistence agricultural systems and adoption of improved practices, which contributed to the Green Revolution in large parts of the developing world, may be adversely affected by various components of these farming systems. The failure of the Green Revolution in Africa has been ascribed to the application of new technologies within unsuitable (and often unstable) contexts (Hart, 2011), resulting in these improved technologies not being adopted or not being functional. Technology adoption for example may be affected by the level of off-farm income generation. The adoption of improved technology seems to be influenced by many factors, ranging from environmental factors, farmer type and the methods used by extension agents, to socioeconomics (Ndove et al, 2006). Despite the potential benefits of improved technologies such as fertilizer and hybrid seed, farmers are reluctant to invest in them because of high purchase costs (Ndove et al, 2006)

Objectives
Methods
Results
Discussion
Conclusion

Talk to us

Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have

Schedule a call

Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.