Determinants Of Farmers Research Articles

Effect of voluntary cooperativisation on livelihood capital of smallholder dairy farmers in the southwest of Bangladesh

This study investigated the effects of voluntary cooperativisationas conducted by the Community-Based Dairy Veterinary Foundation (CDVF) on the livelihood capital of smallholder dairy farmers. An essential part of this cooperativisation was the provision of community-based paid extension service to the farmers by the cooperative. The sustainable livelihood approach was used to analyse livelihood capital. A simple random sampling technique was used to gather data from 255 respondents: including 15key informant interviews, 5 focus group discussions and 5 case studies. Almost all of the farmers felt that the paid service was profitable. Equal portion of farmers realised moderate (49.80%) and high gains (50.20%) from CDVF. Most significant improvements occurred in physical, financial and human capital resources. CDVF has increased production, and improved farmer-to-market linkage maximised profit and income. Farmers reinvested their improved income in physical assets development. Farmers gained considerable knowledge, skill, employment, voice, intensified social networks, green homesteads and livelihood security from the CDVF services. The complementary effect of all five forms of livelihood capital strengthened the assets pentagon of the participating farmers. Regression results affirm that gender, education, distance from CDVF centre, amount of extension communication, increased milk production and higher income are the determinants of farmers’ improved assets base. CDVF needs to professionalise its management and corporate strategy, and their successful voluntary cooperativisation model needs to be promoted and encouraged by all including the State.

The Determinants of Farmers’ Choice of Markets for Staple Food Commodities in Dodoma and Morogoro, Tanzania

Institutional and policy-induced factors affect farmers’ decisions on the choice of the market to sell their staple foods. This results in low motivation to participate in the production and agricultural commodities’ commercialization. This study determines specific institutional and policy-induced factors affecting the farmers’ decisions regarding the staple food market choice in Tanzania. The study uses household survey data collected from 820 farmers raising staple food crops (maize, rice, sorghum, and millet) randomly selected from the Dodoma and Morogoro regions, Tanzania. The index method, descriptive statistics, and choice model (multinomial logit model) are used for data analysis. Qualitative policy analysis is used for analyzing policy-induced factors. Findings show a low level of integration of farmers into staple food markets, with female-headed households facing more hurdles in accessing markets than male-headed households. Age, formal training, the value of agricultural production, membership in organizations, access to credit, contractual arrangements, and distance to markets are significant factors driving farmers to choose a particular market to sell their produces. Restriction of selling and use of staple food commodities, instability of food policy administration, and procedural operation obstacles are found to be key policy-induced factors affecting the marketing of staple food commodities in Tanzania. The scale of production, as depicted by the value of production, and supply contract arrangement with buyers are important factors to ensure that farming households excel in lucrative markets through increased economies of scale and the ability to reach critical volumes for supplying to various markets. Supporting market linkage and infrastructure, as well as enforcing transparent and non-restrictive food marketing policies, would help many farmers enter into contractual arrangements that increase market access and improve market choices.

Determinants of individual social capital in dairy cooperatives in West Shoa, Ethiopia

ABSTRACT While previous studies recognise the importance of social capital for cooperatives’ social and economic outcomes, there are no empirical studies on the determinants of farmers’ social capital in cooperatives. This paper investigates the determinants of social capital using data from farmers in dairy cooperatives in Ethiopia. First, principal component analyses (PCAs) are performed on the data set of dimensions of social capital: structural, relational and cognitive. After applying PCA, composite indicators are developed as measures of farmers’ dimensions of social capital. Second, seemingly unrelated regression is employed to identify the determinants of the dimensions of social capital. The results suggest that marital status, education level and length of membership have a positive effect on the structural dimension. The relational dimension has a positive relationship with the ownership of a radio, the number of close friends, and membership in associations, while training access and number of close friends positively influence the cognitive dimension. The study concludes that improving farmers’ social capital in dairy cooperatives requires investment in the educational system, creating and developing local associations, promoting cooperatives through mass media, and strengthening the existing training programmes.

On-farm rice diversity and farmers’ preferences for varietal attributes in Ayeyarwady Delta, Myanmar

ABSTRACTMyanmar falls within the center of the genetic diversity of many economically important crops, including wild and cultivated rice (Oryza sativa L.). However, the majority of the genetic resources of Myanmar, particularly local varieties, and their distribution remain poorly understood. The present study was conducted to investigate the on-farm varietal diversity and the determinants of farmers’ variety choices in the Ayeyarwady delta in southern Myanmar, specifically for rainfed rice cultivation. Data from 150 randomly selected households, distributed across five townships, were collected through a semi-structured questionnaire. Households were located in three agro-ecological zones based on the predominant water type (fresh, brackish, and saline). The on-farm diversity appeared to be relatively high according to the number of varieties grown by the farmers. In total, 39 varieties were identified within the survey area. Only 34% of the interviewed farmers grew high-yielding varieties (HYVs) at least on a fraction of their land and the likelihood of adoption of HYVs decreased with length of farming experience, education, and soil fertility, but increased with total area sown under rice according to binomial regression model. From a policy perspective for the high adoption of HYVs, the establishment of a product profile for developing new rice varieties should give priority to farmers’ desired attributes and the vital features, such as resistance to environmental stresses or/and preferred qualitative rice properties, rather than solely considering increased yield.

Determinants of farmers’ participation in informal seed production for wheat in Palestine

In Palestine, agriculture plays an important role in the livelihoods of the farmer's society. However, most production inputs and supplies including seeds are imported, reducing the agricultural sector's dependence on the commercial imports of inputs is given high priority in the Agricultural Sector. Formal and informal organizations including ministries and universities worked with farmer's societies to produce high quality seeds through informal seed producers, where farmer's participation in informal seed production activities was limited. In order to determine farmer's participation in informal seed production of wheat in Palestine, socio-economic analysis was conducted for 145 farmers. The sample was collected from the major seed production sites in Palestine. Definition of seven technical variables and 13 socio-economic variables was used in data collection. Descriptive statistics like frequency, percentage, mean and standard deviations and inferential statistics such as t-test and Chi-square test were employed to see main difference and association between both the participating categories. The result shows that farmers’ participation in seed production was significantly influenced by seed source, planting date, rainfall and productivity, membership in agricultural association, technology adoption, capacity building, frequency of extension contact, and net returns and profit. The most important reason that the participants want to participate in the seed production is the access to improved input, the increase in rate of net returns, increase in profit and decreased production costs.

Determinants of Farmers’ Adoption and Expansion of Automated Greenhouses in Korea

The present study investigated the factors that affect farmers’ adoption of automated greenhouses in Korea. In particular, we examined various effects of such factors on whether to adopt automated greenhouses and, if so, to what extent. To this end, a double-hurdle model was applied to the pooled data of the Korean Census of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries for the years 2010 and 2015. The empirical results show that farmers are more likely to adopt and expand automated greenhouses when they are capable of using IT devices for farming and have related social networks. Farmers’ age and education were also crucial in the adoption of automated greenhouses. Farmers who cultivate the crops supported by the smart greenhouse dissemination policy have a high likelihood to adopt automated greenhouses and augment the adopted areas. Taken together, our results imply that targeting young and educated farmers, providing IT training, and enhancing farmers’ networks regarding agricultural technologies would greatly contribute to the rapid dissemination of automated greenhouses.

Determinants of the adoption of mobile phones for fruit marketing by Vietnamese farmers

Making farmers more informed about information and market opportunities is generally considered a significant way to improve their livelihood. Information Communication and Technologies (ICTs) can be important means of doing that. In order to facilitate farmers’ adoption of ICTs for agricultural produce marketing, it is critical to understand factors that affect its adoption. However, few empirical studies have considered determinants of farmers’ adoption of ICTs for marketing in Vietnam. This research investigates factors that shape adoption of ICT tools (mobile phones) for fruit marketing in Huong Son district, Vietnam. A random sample of 180 was drawn from a total of 325 farmers. Descriptive statistics, inferential statistics and a binary logistic regression were applied to analyse the data. The study concluded that young male farmers living far from local markets, who have high incomes and participate in training programs, have a greater tendency to adopt ICT tools (mobile phones) for fruit marketing. Demographic, socio-economic, situational and institutional characteristics of farmers should be considered when promoting farmers’ adoption of ICT tools for agricultural produce marketing and when selecting marketing information strategies to deliver to small-scale farmers in developing countries.

An analysis of farmers' resource disposal methods for livestock and poultry waste and their determinants

Based on field research data on farmers in 30 counties (districts) of six cities in Shandong Province, this study systematically examines the methods of disposal of livestock and poultry waste and the factors that influence them, that is, the determinants of farmers’ waste disposal behaviors, using the UTAUT theoretical framework and a disordered multi-class logit model. The results show that, first, economic performance expectancy, subjective norms, farming population, and poultry and livestock breeding numbers have significant effects on the four waste recycling methods considered: direct return, compost fermentation, biogas fermentation, and fresh-packed sale. Second, annual family income has a positive effect on the direct return method. Third, compost fermentation is positively affected by farmers' knowledge, distance from sources of water, and farming scale, and negatively affected by gender and marital status. Fourth, biogas fermentation is negatively affected by the age of farmers and positively affected by the farming income ratio and environmental convenience. Finally, the most important factors affecting the four methods are subjective norms, farming scale, economic performance expectancy, and farming population. Therefore, this study proposes that policies to promote resource utilization of livestock and poultry waste must prioritize raising awareness among the farmers of the advantages of resource disposal of waste; provide reasonable subsidies for waste recycling and enhance policy applicability, pertinence, and motivation; strengthen the promotion of waste recycling technology and improve the practicality of lectures or training content; and improve relevant laws and regulations and enhance authority and usability.

Determinants of Farmers’ Level Crop Productivity at Dumki Upazila under Patuakhali District

The major aims of this study were mainly to determine and describe the extent of farmers’ crop productivity and also explore the relationship between the 12 selected characteristics of the farmers with their crop productivity level. The study was designed with a mixed-method approach where both qualitative and quantitative analyses are blended in a rational way to have a deeper understanding of research problems. The study was conducted in Dumki Upazilla under Patuakhali district, Bangladesh. Simple random sampling technique was used to select 110 farmers except landless engaged in crop production. Data were collected by face to face interview using a pre-tested interview schedule during the period from March 10 to April 15, 2016. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistical measures and computer software like SPSS. Pearson's Product Moment coefficient of correlation results showed that out of 12 independent variables, the correlation coefficients of 7 variables had a positive and significant relationship with their level of crop productivity. The stepwise multiple regression analyses stated that only 4 variables such as communication exposure, innovativeness, risk orientation and training experience had a significant contribution to the farmers' crop productivity level and also accounted for 52.8 per cent of the total variation in productivity index. This study also showed some problems which were faced by the farmers during crop production. If these problems can be solved, the farmers’ crop productivity level will be increased.

Determinants of farmers’ decision to adopt solar powered pumps

PurposeThis study aims to examine the farmers’ awareness level and explores the factors, which may influence their adoption intention regarding solar powered pumps.Design/methodology/approachThe study consist of a sample of 510 respondents selected from the rural region of Punjab (India) by using convenience sampling. Descriptive analysis, exploratory factor analysis, confirmatory factor analysis and multiple regression analysis techniques have been used for the analytical purpose.FindingsThe study reveals that dimensions such as perceived benefit, perceived compatibility and government incentives have a significant impact on intention to use solar powered pumps, whereas high investment cost and lack of awareness regarding government subsidies are the main reason for non-adoption of the same.Research limitations/implicationsThe sample size has been selected on the basis of convenience sampling and has been taken from the rural area, which may affect its generalizability.Practical implicationsThe present research is expected to be useful for the manufacturers, regulators, customers, commercial banks, product and service providers, and other environmental institutions.Originality/valueThe study has acknowledged various intentional factors, which influence the adoption decision of solar powered pumps. Therefore, the present study will be useful to formulate action plans to improve the environmental quality.

Determinants of farmers' participation in sales channels in Nicaragua: plantain case study

Plantains are an important cultivar in Nicaragua, and while the production has increased in recent years, there is a lack of socio-economic research in this sector. This paper aims to study the factors that determine the farmer's decision on whether to sell or not sell their production. The starting point for this analysis came from a discrete choice framework, with the available information coming from the last national agricultural census. Using a binary logit model, variables related to household and production characteristics were evaluated. The main findings suggest that the farm's geographical location plays a vital role when farmers adopt a market-oriented production. Variables such as gender, access to financial resources, and assistance received show a positive and statistically significant effect. The marginal effects of the age and years of schooling of the head of the household suggest little effect of these factors on farmer's decisions.

Determinants of Farmers’ Confidence Level in the Financial Sector of Ghana: A Case of the Ejura Sekeredumase Municipality of the Ashanti Region

This paper adopted the PPO model to examine determinants of the confidence level of farmers on the financial institutions using 274 randomly selected farmers from Ejura Sekeredumase Municipality. About 44.9% of the farmers reported not having confidence in the financial institutions of the country, 21.9% were somehow confident in the sector, 17.5% were confident whereas only 15.7% were very confident in the sector. Male farmers were more likely to be very confident in the financial sector whilst education in years, farmers who ever lost savings or investment as well as those with current savings and/or investment all had positive outcome in the likelihood of being very confident in the financial sector. Duration of farmers with a financial institution and farmers who ever encountered challenges in a financial institution are less likely to be very confident in financial institutions in Ghana. The Central Bank should develop a different proactive educational model or approach to educate farmers on how to identify risk and other exposures that may be associated with the financial institutions operating in the rural areas in order to enable them to take decisions towards savings and investment. This will boost their confidence levels.

Các yếu tố ảnh hưởng đến nhận thức rủi ro lũ lụt của nông hộ ở Đồng bằng sông Cửu Long

Protection Motivation Theory was applied to find out determinants of farmers’ perception of flood risk in the Vietnamese Mekong Delta. The data were collected from direct interviews of 431 farmers in An Giang province, Hau Giang province and Can Tho city. The method of Dowling was used to measure farmers’ perception of flood risk. Perception of flood risks are considered in 5 aspects including health-disease, finance, production, social relations, and psychology. The results showed that 50.58% of farmers were awareness of flood risks. Three main factors significantly influencing farmers’ perception of flood risks in the study area included the age of the householdes, experiences of flooding and the loss of households in the extreme floods.

Determinants of farmers’ participation in farm settlement scheme in Lagos state, Nigeria: Lessons for future rural development programmes

In its determination to provide food and jobs for Nigerians, and appeal to educated young men to set the pattern for farming, many state governments have re-introduced Farm Settlement Scheme (FSS)/Graduate Employment Scheme once abandoned. One major challenge leading to programme failure in Nigeria is the inability to know the influence of the factors on the participation and constraints of such programmes. This study analysed the determinants of crop farmers? participation in FSS in Lagos State with the aim of drawing some lessons for future rural development programmes. One hundred and thirty (130) farmers were sampled through two-stage sampling procedures. Data were collected with the aid of a questionnaire and were analysed using both descriptive and inferential statistics such as the logit regression model. Results show that about 67% of the respondents were male and 72% were married. The major constraining factors to participation in FSS were administrative bottlenecks, inadequate capital, and government interference. The logit regression showed that educational level, farming experience, extension contacts and security of land under FSS were the significant variables (P<0.5) that directly influenced the probability of participation of the farmers in FSS in Lagos State, Nigeria. Farming experience is very crucial for the survival of FSS. Therefore, it is recommended that the determinants of participation and constraints to the participation of the farmers be assessed in any rural development programme to know the necessary action against failure. The effort at increasing extension contacts about FSS will further encourage farmers to participate in FSS.

Impact of conversion from rice farms to oil palm plantations on socio-economic aspects of ex-migrants in Indonesia

This paper aims to investigate the impact of land conversion from rice farming to oil palm plantations on the socio-economic aspects of ex-migrants in the South Sumatra tidal swamp, Indonesia. Land conversion from rice farming to oil palm plantations is a form of adaptation for ex-migrant farmers and will increase food deficits in Indonesia. Ex-migrant farmers initially cultivated food crops with conventional technology. This pattern has been changing, which have led to the formation of two large groups of farms, namely rice-based farms implementing mechanisation, and oil palm-based plantations. The results showed that changes from rice farming to oil palm plantations did not make the economy of farm households better. Between the two groups of farmers, there is no difference in arable land, the labour allocation for agriculture and the farmers’ income. In addition, there is not much difference between farmers’ participation in on-farm and out-farm activities. The area of arable land owned, the husbands’age, and family size variables are determinants of farmers’ choice to participate in other jobs activities and influence farmers’ income. Thus, changes in crops from rice to oil palm have no impact on cultivation area, labour allocation, income, on-farm and out-farm activities.

A new approach to explain farmers’ adoption of climate change mitigation measures

The determinants of farmers’ decisions to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions are currently not well understood. This study takes several new angles in investigating farmers’ climate change mitigation behaviour. Based on two identical surveys among representative samples of Dutch farmers, this study examines the underlying determinants and motivating factors for three different types of climate change mitigation measures on farms: energy saving, the production of renewable energy and reduction of emissions of methane and nitrous oxide (non-CO2 emissions). Furthermore, the study explores whether farmers’ awareness and behaviour has been influenced by a communication campaign carried out by the government of the Netherlands between 2012 and 2015. Four major conclusions emerge. Firstly, the analyses demonstrate that accounting for the cost-effectiveness and technology readiness level (TRL) of different types of climate change mitigation measures provides for a better understanding of the factors that motivate farmers to adopt these measures. Secondly, neither the willingness to take GHG reduction measures nor knowledge on GHG emissions are consistent motivating factors for energy-related measures. Thirdly, it seems that external factors, such as economic hardship, dominate the overall environmental awareness of farmers. Fourthly, the farmer’s propensity to innovate proved to be the strongest and most consistent predictor of both the willingness and the actual adoption of climate change mitigation technologies. Therefore, focusing on making farmers more open to change and general innovation in campaigns in the agricultural sector might be more effective than campaigns focusing specifically on climate change mitigation.

Determinants of farmers’ perception about climate change in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa-Pakistan

Climate change is a global environmental threat to almost all economic sectors, especially the agricultural sector and Pakistan is no exception to these threats. In Pakistan, farmers are the primary stakeholders in agriculture and are more at risk due to climatic vulnerability. This study, therefore examined farmers’ perception about climate change across four agro-climatic zones of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa-Pakistan. A total of 210 farmers were selected through multistage random sampling technique and interviewed by using a well-designed interview schedule. The study results revealed that maize and wheat were the two main crops cultivated by 99.05% and 97.14% respondents, respectively. Among the total targeted respondents, 89.52% respondents reported an increase in temperature, whereas 79.05% observed decrease in rainfall in the province. The logistic regression analysis was carried out to assess factors influencing farmers’ perceptions of climate change. The analysis revealed that 89.52%of farmers in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa had a perception that climate was changing. In this respect, age, educations, household size, farming experience and farm income were recorded having statistically significant effect on the probability of the respondents to perceive climate change. It is concluded that mean temperature was increased, while a significant decrease was noted in annual precipitation. Based on the study findings, it is recommended that policy makers should devise policies helping the farmers in coping with changing climate to avoid adverse effects of climatic pattern on overall crop yield. Agricultural extension and meteorological department should work together to forecast weather conditions and transfer the required information and mitigation strategies to the target farming community. Keywords: Climate change; Logit regression; Khyber Pakhtunkhwa-Pakistan; Perception http://dx.doi.org/10.19045/bspab.2019.80161

Has microcredit boosted poultry production in Ghana?

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to determine the impact of microcredit on smallholder poultry production and its subsequent role on domestic protein and food supply. Design/methodology/approach Cross-sectional farm-level data from 61 farmers with at least two years of microcredit access and 39 farmers without microcredit access in the Dormaa Municipality of Ghana collected in 2016 via semi-structured questionnaire were used. Using the propensity score matching, PSM, and data envelopment analyses approaches, the authors analysed the propensity of farmers’ taking microcredit and its effect on beneficiaries’ technical efficiency, productivity, profitability and domestic production of chicken and eggs, farm performance. The authors addressed selection biases with the PSM and answered the research question of whether farmers with microcredit access perform better than non-microcredit farmers. Findings Farmers with high years of education, farming experience, technology and machinery as well as micro-savings and female farmers are more likely to take microcredit whereas large farm size reduces farmers’ propensity to take microcredit. Furthermore, farms with microcredit access were more technically efficient, productive and profitable than they would have been in the absence of microcredit. Practical implications The paper can be useful to policymakers and microcredit institutions since it provides evidence of microeconomic impacts of microcredit on agricultural production and the determinants of farmers’ participation in microcredit. Originality/value The study helps to understand how access to credit can improve smallholders’ technology adoption, production efficiency and productivity and output thereby enhancing domestic food supply.

Determinants of Farmer’s Participation in Farmers’ Associations: Empirical Evidence from Maputo Green Belts, Mozambique

Currently, the creation of farmers’ association has been suggested as an instrument for improving farmer’s well-being in developing countries, either to its potential contribution to markets access as well as by strengthening dissemination of information between farmers. However, most urban agriculture studies deal with production and marketing. Few studies analyze the determinants of producers' engagement in farmers’ associations. Therefore, the study has evaluated the determinants of producer’s participation in farmers’ associations in Maputo green belts, Mozambique. The random sampling technique has been used to collect data from 126 smallholders, of which 63 are the members of farmers’ association. A log it regression model has been used for quantifying the factors influencing farmer’s decision to affiliate on farmers’ association. The results of this study indicate that the variables with more influence on farmer’s decision to affiliate on farmers’ association are: gender, age, household size, and household income. Men are more likely to become members of farmer’s associations than women. The results also suggest that farmers outside farmers’ association have higher incomes and apparently have little interest for being affiliated to farmers associations because they can self-finance their agricultural activities. Access to credit and the size of cultivated area are not significant, however, the probability associated with the odds ratio for these variables have positive effects. The study recommends the implementation of agricultural programs and policies that encourage young farmers especially those with larger areas, and incomes to participate on agricultural and marketing associations.

Determinants of Farmers' Health Behaviors on Poisoning with Pesticides in Golestan Province: Based on the Health Belief Model

Determinants of Farmers' Health Behaviors on Poisoning with Pesticides in Golestan Province: Based on the Health Belief Model