Level of Adoption and Factor Affecting the Level of Adoption Sustainable Soil Management Practices in Ramechhap District, Nepal

This study investigated the level of adoption and factor affecting the level of adoption of sustainable soil management practices. This research was based on the primary data that was collected in 2012 at Chisapani, Nagdaha and Kathjor VDCs of Ramechhap district of Nepal to analyze the level of adoption and factor affecting the level of adoption of sustainable soil management practices. Pre-tested semi structured interview schedule were used to collect the primary data from 120 farmers, 40 farmers from each VDC by applying simple random sampling technique. The major sustainable soil management practices adopted were found to be improved farm yard manure, improved cattle urine, inclusion of the vegetable and legume in the farming system and use of the bio-pesticide. The level of technology adoption was found to be 79.55% and this shows that the level of adoption was high. The higher level of adoption was due to increase in the production and productivity of the crops and improvement in soil fertility. While considering about the factor affecting the adoption of sustainable soil management practices, the study showed that the five variables namely training, credit, income, livestock standard unit and experience were significantly affecting for higher level of adoption. A unit increase in training, credit, livestock standard unit and experience would increase the probability of level of adoption by 3.48%, 0.83%, 0.45% and 1.1% respectively and a hundred rupees increase in income would increase the probability of level of adoption by 0.0819%.

The study examined the effect of market access on the adoption of sustainable soil management practices by farmers in the study area. Specifically, the study described the socio-economic characteristics of the farmers; identified the sustainable soil management practices adopted by the farmers; determined factors influencing the choice of sustainable soil management practices used; determined the relationship between market access and the adoption intensity of sustainable soil management practices and identified constraints faced in adopting sustainable soil management practices. Multistage sampling procedure was employed to collect data from one hundred and fifty (150) farmers. Thereafter, data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics and multivariate probit regression. The findings revealed that the mean age of the respondents was 45 years, with a mean household size of about 6 members. Majority (69.6%) of the respondents had formal education and a mean year of experience of about 18. The study also revealed that all the respondents had access to one form of market or the other for purchase of inputs and sales of their products. In addition, the mean distance covered from farm to home was less than 5 kilometres for most of the respondents while the distance from home to major market and farm to major market was between 5 and 10 kilometres. The most popular sustainable soil management practices adopted by the farmers were the use of chemical fertilizers, crop rotation and intercropping. Furthermore, the multivariate probit regression model showed that age of the respondents, educational level, farm size, household size, farming experience, farm income, awareness of sustainable soil management practices, average distance to the input market, average distance to the output market, average price of product, average price of input for each practice, subsidies on input for each practice, significantly influenced the adoption of sustainable soil management practice by farmers. Also, it was found by the study that inadequate fund is the major constraint faced by the respondents in adopting sustainable soil management practices.

This research was conducted in the month of June (2012) at Chisapani, Nagdaha and Kathjor VDCs of Ramechhap district of Nepal to analyze the impact of sustainable soil management practices on household food security. Pre-tested semi structured interview schedule were used to collect the primary data from 120 farmers, 40 farmers from each VDC by applying simple random sampling technique. It was found that before adopting sustainable soil management practices the food sufficiency from own production was 3.98 months and after the adoption the food sufficiency months was 7.67 and farmers perceived that there is increased access to food. Similarly, the income and expenditure on food consumption before the adoption of practices were Rs. 25758.33 and Rs. 12133.33 respectively and after the adoption of practices were Rs. 51675 and Rs. 7175 respectively. Farmers expressed that increase in production and productivity was major reason in adopting sustainable soil management practices. The increase in the production and productivity was the main reason for contributing towards household food security. Lack of irrigation facilities was major problem in adopting the sustainable soil management practices. The study revealed that sustainable soil management practices had significant impact on food sufficiency, income and production of different crops which ultimately results to improvement in food security in the study area than before. Finally, this study concludes that the sustainable soil management practices had high contribution to household food security.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/ijssm.v1i4.11239 Int. J. Soc. Sci. Manage. Vol-1, issue-4: 164-168

Knowledge sharing and adoption behaviour: An imperative to promote sustainable soil use and management

This paper explores the determinants of sustainable soil management (SSM) practices among Bangladeshi paddy farmers. Relevant information from 2681 paddy farmers was extracted from the nationally representative Bangladesh Integrated Household Survey (BIHS 2018–2019) dataset. Four SSM practices were commonly practiced with 37.04% of the sampled farmers adopting at least one SSM practice. ‘Use of organic fertilizer’ was the most common practice, whereas the other three, viz. ‘zero-tillage’, ‘incorporate paddy residue’, and ‘legume cultivation’ were less practiced by the farmers. Econometric analysis revealed that differences in the farmers’ socio-economic conditions, environmental and institutional settings were the main drivers of the SMM practice decisions. Climatic factors were critical in shaping the farmers’ decision to adopt SSM practices. Education, access to information and extension services increased the adoption probability of SSM practices. Improved infrastructure and being located within the economically vulnerable areas (e.g., Feed the Future zone) influenced the farmers’ adoption decision, but the magnitude and direction varied depending on the individual circumstances. The farmers’ socio-economic conditions, e.g., assets and farm size, also had a notable influence on the adoption of SSM practices. Policy implications include strengthening extension services, incorporation of climatic information in education and dissemination of information on SSM practices, particularly to farmers living in vulnerable areas.

Increasing food demand and climate change pose a major challenge to the sustainability of food production systems and safeguarding environmental health. Nepal's economy is primarily reliant on agriculture which is highly sensitive to climate variability. Key concerns in the middle hills of Nepal include declining soil fertility and soil degradation, changing temperature and precipitation patterns, and pest and disease outbreaks, all of which are affecting productivity, prices, incomes, and ultimately livelihoods. This paper describes some simple, farmer-friendly climate smart management options, and analyses their importance, effectiveness and impacts on improving soil fertility and farm productivity. Simple and widely-adopted sustainable soil management and agronomic practices, which are based on efficient use of local resources, include improvement in preparation and management of farmyard manure (FYM) and compost, systematic collection of cattle urine and its use as a base for botanical pesticide and liquid fertilizer, integrating legumes and fodder crops into cropping systems, small-scale collection of rain and run-off water, and improved water use efficiency. These practices have resulted in a statistically significant increase in soil organic matter levels, and have improved soil fertility and structure, workability, and moisture characteristics. Soil organic matter reached a mean of 3.77% from 3.32% after adoption of sustainable soil management practices over the period of 1-3 years in 337 farm sites. The nitrogen content of topsoil significantly increased overall (0.17% to 0.2%) and in 3 of 5 time series. Similarly, nitrogen content of improved FYM significantly increased in 3 of 5 series and overall on 350 farmer's fields over a period of 1 to 3 years. 18.6 kg additional N was annually gained from a mature cattle with improved farmyard manure management techniques and systematic collection of urine. Additional benefits include enhanced soil carbon storage, and improved crop resilience to changes in weather patterns. Adoption of these practices has contributed to increased productivity, enhanced income, improved food security, and a beneficial impact on the workload of women.

The drive for the adoption of Sustainable Supply Chain Management practices among pharmaceutical companies is on the rise given the global effort to attain net zero of carbon emissions as well as attaining other targets for the sustainable development goals. The pharmaceutical industry plays vital role in the manufacturing and distribution of medications, and therefore sustainability issues are critical for the survival of the industry. However, the adoption of sustainable practices in the upstream pharmaceutical industry is still low, and there is lack of empirical research in this area, particularly in emerging economies like Ghana. This study aims to fill this gap by examining the level of adoption of sustainable supply chain practices, focusing on the role of the policy framework, the influence of these practices on company performance, and the role of top executives in ensuring sustainability. The study utilizes a mixed method approach and leverages the upper echelon theory to explore the role of managers on sustainable supply chain practices. This dissertation explore the state of the upstream pharmaceutical Sustainable Supply Chain Management practices in Ghana, evaluate the role of the upstream pharmaceutical policy framework of Ghana on supply chain sustainability, identify how upstream pharmaceutical Sustainable Supply Chain Management Practices influence the performance of pharmaceutical companies in Ghana, and to examine the role of top management in ensuring upstream pharmaceutical sustainable supply chain management practices in Ghana. By addressing the above objectives, the study promotes academic debate and provides insights for policy directions in the pharmaceutical industry for sustainable growth and development. The research design includes both explanatory and exploratory approaches, with a concurrent/parallel mixed methods design combining quantitative and qualitative data. Specifically, the concurrent triangulation design mixed method was adopted. The target population was employees of locally owned upstream pharmaceutical companies in the Greater Accra region of Ghana. From a finite population of about 2000, stratified and purposive strategies were used to select 18 participants under the qualitative aspect, while random sampling technique was used to select 334 for the quantitative aspect of the study. Therefore, the total sample size for this study was 352 participants. Data collection involved the use of questionnaire and structured interview guide, and data analysis included structural equation modeling for quantitative data and thematic analysis as well as content analysis for qualitative data. Quantitative results indicated that Sustainable Supply Chain Management practices have a positive significant association with Sustainable Supply Chain Management performance for upstream pharmaceutical companies. Results showed that, there was positive impact of Top Management Commitment on Sustainable Supply Chain Management to performance. Furthermore, there was justification for Top Management Commitment as a moderator on the association between Sustainable Supply Chain Management practices and Sustainable Supply Chain Management performance. The study's findings on sustainable supply chain management practices in the upstream pharmaceutical sector in Ghana have significant theoretical, managerial, and policy implications. The interviews revealed the importance of socially inclusive practices, eco-friendly manufacturing, waste management, supplier involvement, and collaborations are important factors to consider in achieving sustainability goals. Theoretical implications include the recognition of responsible sourcing as a crucial component of sustainable supply chain management and the importance of socially responsible human resource management strategies. Managerially, the adoption of green manufacturing practices, waste management, and supplier engagement are highlighted as strategies for enhancing sustainability. Policy implications emphasize the need for supportive policies and regulations that promote responsible sourcing, green manufacturing, waste management, and supplier engagement in the upstream of pharmaceutical industry. The study contributes to the literature by providing empirical evidence of the positive association between sustainable supply chain management and organizational performance. The role of top management in ensuring the adoption and implementation of sustainable supply chain management practices is crucial, with implications for leadership, resource allocation, collaboration, and stakeholder engagement. Policy-wise, support for sustainable supply chain management practices and capacity-building initiatives are crucial for the adopting and implementations of these practices within the pharmaceutical industry. Overall, the study provides insights for theory, practice, and policy to enhance sustainability in the pharmaceutical supply chain.

Purpose– Temporary and permanent decline in the productive capacity of the land due to natural and human-induced activities such as soil erosion, changing cropping practices and less use of organic matter (OM) has been the greatest challenge faced by mankind in recent years, particularly in the hills and mountains of Nepal. Hence, the purpose of this paper is to examine the effectiveness of sustainable soil management practices to mitigate desertification process in the hills of Nepal.Design/methodology/approach– Promotion of sustainable soil management (SSM) practices through a decentralised agriculture extension approach by involving all the stakeholders in a participatory way.Findings– SSM practices mainly: OM management, fodder and forage promotion, increased biomass production systems, integrated plant nutrition systems, and bioengineering for soil and water conservation are identified as the most appropriate and relevant technologies in mitigating the desertification process without deteriorating land quality, particularly conserving the top-soils effectively and efficiently in the hills and mountains of the country.Research limitations/implications– This research is focus on the overall effect of SSM practices due to time and budget constraints. There is scope for doing research on the different aspects of SSM practices and the extent of their effect on different soil parameters (chemical, biological and physical).Practical implications– SSM interventions clearly indicated that there is significant impact in increasing soil fertility, conserving fertile top-soils and mitigating physical, chemical and biologic desertification processes. These are possible through maintaining and improving the soil organic matter, which is the most important indicator for soil health. SSM practices have resulted in an increase of up to 30 per cent in crop yield compared to yields without SSM practices. This might be due to the improvement in SOC which improves soil texture, increases nutrient supply from organic source and conserves water quality, thus, improving soil quality.Social implications– This has created awareness among farmers. Hence, farmers are mitigating pH through increased use of organic manures, where there is less availability of agriculture lime and they are far from road access.Originality/value– SSM practices significantly contributes to combat soil desertification in the hills of Nepal.

Adoption of multiple sustainable land management practices and its effects on productivity of smallholder maize farmers in Nigeria

Soil fertility in mixed crop-livestock farming systems of Punjab, Pakistan: The role of institutional factors and sustainable land management practices

Sustainability which is the successful management of resources for agriculture to satisfy the changing human needs and the capacity to remain productive and at the same time conserving the resource base, is the focus of this study. Therefore, the various conventional methods of managing soil, which are commonly being practiced by crop farmers were considered. The study examines the sustainable soil management practices of crop farmers in Mkpat-Enin Local Government Area of Akwa- Ibom state. A sample of 150 farmers were selected through multi-stage random sampling technique. Results show that majority of the crop farmers were females in their working population with educational status of less than secondary education. It shows that there is no significant relationship between the demographic characteristics of crop farmers and their use of sustainable soil management practices. The result also revealed the level of use of sustainable soil management practices. The result shows that there is no significant relationship between sustainable soil management practices used and yield of crops (r = -0.0162, p= -0.8450). It also shows that productivity of farmers is significantly related to the sustainable soil management practices used (r =0.2602, p = 0.001) and there is significant relationship between farmers yields and farm size (r = 0.9905; p = 0.001) while productivity also showed significant relationship with farm size (r = 0.9947, p = 0.000). There is therefore, the need to encourage farmers to use sustainable soil management practices through removing the constraints they encounter. [JEXT Vol.3 2002: 80-88]

This study investigates the adoption of sustainable development and management practices among Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in Kerala, focusing on key drivers and barriers to sustainability. SMEs play a critical role in the state's economy, yet many face challenges in integrating sustainable practices due to limited financial resources, insufficient awareness, and sector-specific policy gaps. Using a combination of statistical methods, including Fisher's Exact Test, ANOVA, linear regression, and multiple logistic regression, this study analyzes how factors such as awareness, firm size, industry sector, and government interventions influence the adoption of sustainable practices. The findings reveal that higher awareness is strongly associated with greater adoption of sustainability measures, and larger SMEs are more likely to implement such practices. Additionally, significant differences in adoption levels are observed across industry sectors, with manufacturing firms leading and retail firms lagging. Government support, including policy frameworks, financial incentives, and training programs, is found to be a critical factor in driving sustainability adoption. The study concludes that a multi-faceted approach, including raising awareness, sector-specific interventions, and enhanced government support, is essential to fostering widespread sustainability practices among SMEs in Kerala. These insights provide valuable guidance for policymakers and industry leaders in promoting sustainable development within the SME sector.

As an outcome of agricultural activities, land degradation causes detrimental impacts on the environment and soil. It requires sustainable measures to combat the problem that is becoming critical worldwide. Despite many technological improvement programmes in agriculture, especially on land conservation, adoption has remained low in many developing countries. This situation triggered a further investigation into potential factors influencing sustainable land management practices (SLMPs) adoption in Mbulu district, a semiarid area in northern Tanzania so as to determine and suggest appropriate measures that can promote greater adoption. A cross-sectional study was conducted, and data from 120 farmers was collected using semi-structured questionnaires. The adoption index was computed and determined the level of SLMPs adoption to be low. Probit regression analysis examined the factors influencing the adoption of SLMPs. Results show that gender, marital status, education, land size, and the distance to the extension office significantly influenced the adoption of SLMPs. Specifically, being male, widowed, having formal education, owning a larger size of land, and being closer to the extension office significantly increased the likelihood of the adoption. Also, being unmarried and unaware of SLMPs reduced the probability of the adoption. Awareness-raising programmes must be more targeted and effective to reach the intended audience. In addition, promoting sustainable land management practices that support income diversification and livelihood improvement is crucial in the study area. Furthermore, the adoption of sustainable land management practices requires supportive policy and institutional frameworks in the study area. Overall, addressing these factors requires a multi-faceted approach that involves collaboration between various stakeholders, including farmers, communities, the government, civil society organisations, and the private sector. By working together, these stakeholders can create an enabling environment that promotes SLMPs adoption and contributes to more sustainable livelihoods and income diversification in the study area.

An abundance of soil organic carbon (SOC) generally enhances the quality of lands for agriculture or forestry. Concentration of SOC varies in accordance to the type of land use, the inputs to the soil, and natural factors including climate and vegetation. SOC is vital for sustaining agricultural productivity which chiefly depends on both the inherent soil type and crop management practices affecting depletion or replenishment of organic matter over the years. Assessment of SOC concentration is a characteristic measurement of evaluating soil quality and the carbon sequestration potential of agricultural land. This study aims to assess SOC distribution on selected farmlands of Nepal’s mid-hills, where farmers have adopted sustainable soil management practices in non-irrigable hill terraces (“Bari” land) in comparison with those of surrounding Bari and forests where no such interventions are made. Thus the present study estimated SOC content of three types of land use – farmland with sustainable soil management practices (SSMP), farmland without sustainable management practices (Non-SSMP) and the community managed forest in four mountain districts of Nepal, namely Baglung, Dhading, Kavre and Okhaldhunga. This study found the average SOC stocks in the SSMP land in the range of 20 - 44 Mgha-1,those in non-SSMP agricultural areas 15 to 48 Mgha-1, and in the forested land 16 to 23 Mgha-1. In general, the abundance of SOC stocks are in the order of SSM>Non-SSM>Forests. The analysis indicates the high potential for carbon sequestration in hill agriculture lands through sustainable soil management. Nepal Journal of Science and Technology Vol. 13, No. 1 (2012) 133-141 DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/njst.v13i1.7452

Soil quality is in decline in many parts of the world, in part due to the intensification of agricultural practices. Whilst economic instruments and regulations can help incentivise uptake of more sustainable soil management practices, they rarely motivate long-term behavior change when used alone. We are now beginning to pay attention to the complex social factors that affect uptake of sustainable soil management practices. To understand why some communities try these practices whilst others do not, we undertook a narrative review to understand how social capital influences adoption. We found that the four components of social capital – trust, norms, connectedness and power – can all influence the decision of farmers to change their soil management. Specifically, information flows more effectively across trusted, diverse networks where social norms exist to encourage innovation. Uptake is more limited in homogenous, close-knit farming communities that do not have many links with non-farmers and where there is a strong social norm to adhere to the status quo. Power can enhance or inhibit uptake depending on how it is managed. Future research, policy and practice should consider whether a lack of effective social capital could hinder uptake of new practices and, if so, which aspects of social capital could be developed to increase adoption of sustainable soil management practices. Enabling diverse, collaborative groups (including farmers, advisers and government officials) to work constructively together could help build effective social capital, where they can co-define, -develop and -enact measures to sustainably manage soils.