Diversified Farmers Research Articles

Becoming A Market Participant

Drawing on the frameworks of moral economy and relational sociology, this article examines how small farmers have developed different dispositions toward risk calculation during the market transition in China. Using interview data and ethnographic observation from a village in northeast China, I show that monocropping farmers tend to view and manage risks differently from diversified farmers. Monocroppers, who rely on state procurement along with migrant work, have developed a personal-relationship-oriented style of risk calculation that avoids unfamiliar connections and prioritizes kinship ties in their economic lives. Diversified farmers have adopted market-cycle-oriented risk calculation due to their experience of boom-and-bust cycles. I find that individuals’ market dispositions are shaped by their lived experience of the immediate environment and have far-reaching effects on actors’ capacity to participate in markets.

The role of farmer networks in supporting adaptive capacity: Opening the door for innovation and transformation in the Northeastern United States

This article explores the role of farmer networks in building the adaptive capacity of small and diversified farmers in the Northeastern United States. Previous research suggests that farmers’ networks are the backbone of practical agricultural knowledge systems in the United States, serving as a critical venue where growers exchange and negotiate new ideas. Drawing upon empirical evidence from a regional survey on climate resilience and a series of focus groups conducted in collaboration with 9 farmer organizations from Pennsylvania to Eastern Canadian provinces, this article examines how the emergence of new ideas and agroecological innovations are influenced by geography, network affiliation, and perceived agency. First, we use regression analysis to identify factors that influence the use of no-till on diversified vegetable and berry farms, which is an emerging innovation in this community. Our analysis shows that geography may not be a significant driver of adoption among the population we sampled, which contrasts with previous research on explanatory factors, yet affiliation with certain farmer networks was significant in predicting the use or intended use of the practice. This quantitative analysis is complemented by qualitative data from a series of focus groups in which farmers identify the characteristics of certain networks which support them in addressing new challenges. Farmers identified that networks support them in learning about new ideas, accessing resources, and engaging in creative problem-solving, through facilitation of spaces for exchange with peers and experts and being responsive to their emerging needs.

Exploring the contributions of non-farm income diversification for improving soil and water conservation practices and reducing rural poverty in rain-fed areas of Punjab, Pakistan

Attaining agricultural sustainability and eliminating poverty are the key challenges of rural areas. Non-farm income diversification is a vital livelihood strategy that endorses sustainable agriculture and alleviates poverty. Considering the land degradation and poor economic situation of Pakistan's rain-fed areas, the current research examined the potential effects of non-farm income diversification on household poverty and adopting soil and water conservation (SWC) technologies. A survey of 441 farmers was conducted in rain-fed areas of Punjab, Pakistan, and for econometric analysis, the propensity score matching (PSM) technique was employed to explore the objectives. The results signified that diversified farmers were more likely to adopt SWC practices and were less vulnerable to poverty. The findings suggest that farmer-based organizations and agricultural extension activities must be strengthened as they support non-farm income diversification, thus facilitating investment in soil and water conservation technologies and reducing poverty.

ASSOCIATION BETWEEN SELECTED CHARACTERISTICS OF THE FARMER AND AGRICULTURAL DIVERSIFICATION

In relation to agricultural development, diversification is probably one of the most frequently used terms in the recent decade. Traditionally, diversification was used more in the context of a subsistence kind of farming, wherein farmers grown many crops on their field. The household level food security as also risk was an important consideration in diversification. In the recent decade, diversification is increasingly being used to describe increase in area under high value crops. Total 160 respondents were selected from sixteen villages belongs to Dhanera, Deesa, Vadgam and Lakhani talukas of Banaskantha district of Gujarat state. Independent and dependent variables were measured with the help of scales/technique/index development by previous researchers with some modification. The data were collected by personal contact method with help of structured interview schedule and data were coded, classified, tabulated and analyzed in the light of objectives. The appropriate statistical methods were used for analysis of data. The result found that majority of the diversified farmers belonged to middle to old age group and obtained high school education with annual income up to Rs.4,00,000 and having medium to large land holding, had medium to high information seeking behavior, risk orientation and management efficiency with favorable to more favorable attitude towards agricultural diversification, had medium to high cropping intensity and used both canal and well and both tube well and canal as a sources of irrigation. Out of ten variables total six variables viz., education, Family income, size of land holding, risk orientation, Management efficiency and cropping intensity had positive and highly significant relationship with agricultural diversification. Information seeking behavior and attitude towards agricultural diversification had positive and significant relationship with agricultural diversification.

Rural households’ attitude to diversification into non-farm enterprises in Katsina State, Nigeria

The study investigated the rural households’ attitude to diversification into non-farm enterprises in Katsina State, Nigeria. A multistage sampling procedure was used to select 256 farmers for the study. Data were obtained with the aid of questionnaire and analyzed using percentage and regression analysis. The most positive attitude was “that non-farm enterprise is a crucial pathway to food security for rural households”. It was closely followed by “non-farm enterprise is a source of agricultural household savings used for food purchase in hard times” and “non-farm enterprise provides a means to cope or survive when farming fails”. Farmers expressed positive attitude to diversification into non-farm enterprises and do not depend on agriculture as a sole means of livelihood but diversified income sources; the diversified farmers had higher income level. Government should support the existing non-farm enterprises and encourage creation of new ones; also improve formal credit access. Furthermore, technical support and skills acquisition training programs should be provided to enhance the performance and efficiency of non-farm enterprises in rural areas.

Redesigning of Farming Systems Using a Multi-Criterion Assessment Tool for Sustainable Intensification and Nutritional Security in Northwestern India

Sustaining agricultural systems dominated by small and vulnerable resource-poor farms that are subject to climatic aberrations is a major challenge for most Asian countries. In this context, the role of agriculture requires immediate attention in northwestern India where marginal farmers with less than a meagre 1 hectare of land represent about 67% of the population. Research based on prototype farms is being promoted in the redesign of current farming practices to help give these farmers sustainable livelihoods. We hypothesize that integrating innovative cropping systems into smallholder marginal farms could help to achieve these objectives. The study presented here describes a modelling approach for the ex-ante assessment of the current farming practices of marginal households in terms of economic, environmental, and nutritional indicators in comparison with those of experimental research farms in order to delineate an alternative scope of flexibility to optimize farming practices. We used the FarmDESIGN model to evaluate farmers’ realities, with a focus on marginal farms (marginal poor farmers (MPFs)) and marginal diversified farmers (MDF) with the objective of enhancing profit, soil organic matter balance, and nutritional system yield in terms of dietary energy and reducing pesticide usage. Introducing prototype cropping systems in up to 33% of the farm area, combined with rearrangements of the existing crops, provided ample opportunity to improve farm performance. The improvements were greater when prototype cropping systems were added, and MPFs could benefit greatly from improvements in soil organic matter balance when considering the current negative organic matter balance of most farms. We conclude that the model-based approach of evaluating the potential of new cropping systems, along with the fine tuning of alternative combinations, will support the enhanced adaptability of innovative cropping practices, which will help to improve the livelihoods of marginal farmers.

"We feed the world": the political ecology of the Corn Belt's driving narrative

Industrial grain production occupies most of Iowa's farmland. Around the edges of corn and soybean monocultures, however, small-scale, diversified farmers establish alternative agricultural operations and sell to local markets. One narrative, "we feed the world", stretches across these two spheres; its roots lie in post-World War II geopolitics, and its contemporary iterations reflect the actions of private agricultural interest groups. As a rhetorical strategy, asserting "we feed the world" invokes neo-Malthusian fears to reposition differences in agricultural production systems within a moral framework where yield primarily determines agricultural legitimacy. This article ethnographically analyzes how this narrative intersects the lives and livelihoods of conventional and alternative farmers alike. Today, the narrative serves three functions: defending industrial agricultural systems against criticisms,justifying the pursuit of ever-higher yields on moral grounds, and gatekeeping agricultural legitimacy. Examining this discursive mechanism yields insight into the diversity of strategies through which actors within the industrial agricultural system reproduce particular land use practices in service of their own interests.

Exploring the link between farmers’ entrepreneurial identities and work wellbeing

Pressure on farmers to behave more ‘entrepreneurial’ is increasing. Psychological and social science research therefore has examined what characterises farmers identifying as entrepreneurs. A previous study in Finland suggested that farmers' self-identities may conflict with the public paradigm describing farmers as entrepreneurs instead of food providers. Different expectations towards farming may cause identity issues and decrease work wellbeing. The present study examines the relationship of work wellbeing and entrepreneurial identification. Utilizing the Maslach Burnout Inventory and the theory of Entrepreneurial Identity, the results show that work wellbeing is higher for diversified farmers and rural business owners than for conventional farmers in Finland. Conventional farmers on the other hand experience higher rates of loss of personal control and self-efficacy, indicating that the political strategies for entrepreneurs, diversification and innovativeness, are not applicable to all farmer groups. Entrepreneurs aim for autonomy and personal control which generally may be limited in specialised, subsidy-dependent agricultural production systems. Identity formation processes and how farmers can gain more control over their businesses as well as the limitations of entrepreneurship in the momentary agricultural policy system, should be considered in upcoming policy strategies.

Understanding nutritional intake of Chinese farmers from the perspective of sustainable livelihood analysis.

Based on the framework of sustainable livelihood analysis and using the China Health and Nutrition Survey (CHNS) data, this paper examines the connection between livelihood assets and farmers' nutritional intake. Results show that capital endowment and nutritional intake of farmers with diversified production are greater than those who specialize; capital endowment and nutritional intake of horticultural households are greater than those who engage in agriculture. Compared with non-economically disadvantaged households, higher livelihood assets have significant association with improved fat and protein intake of economically disadvantaged households. Compared with diversified farmers, more livelihood assets have significant association with improved energy and carbohydrate intake of agricultural households. Compared with those who specialize, additional livelihood assets have significant association with improved fat and protein intake of farmers with diversified production.

Farming systems’ typologies analysis to inform agricultural greenhouse gas emissions potential from smallholder rain-fed farms in Kenya

Most sub-Saharan Africa smallholder farming systems are highly heterogeneous. Direct quantification of greenhouse gas emissions from these farming systems is hampered by diversity at farm-level. Each farm contributes differently to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and consequently GHG inventories. Typologies can be used as a mechanism of addressing farming systems’ heterogeneity by grouping them into specific farm types. With the GHG quantification simplification initiatives in mind, we developed smallholder farm typologies based on soil fertility inputs. We assessed nitrogen application rate, soil fertility management technologies and the socio-economic factors diversity among the farm typologies in the central highlands of Kenya. We used data from a cross-sectional household survey with a sample size of 300 smallholder farmers. We characterized the farm types using principal component analysis (PCA). To develop farm typologies, we subjected the PCA-derived typologies related factors to cluster analysis (CA). The results showed six farm types: Type 1, comprising cash crop and hybrid cattle farmers; Type 2, comprising food crop farmers; Type 3, composed of coffee-maize farmers; Type 4, comprising millet-livestock farmers; Type 5, comprising highly diversified farmers, and Type 6, comprising tobacco farmers. Land size owned, total tropical livestock unit, the proportion of land and nitrogen applied to different cropping systems were significant in the construction of farm typologies. Univariate analysis showed the household head's level of education, hired labour, group membership, access to extension services, and proportion of income from cropping activities as critical factors influencing farm typologies in the study area. This study demonstrates the importance of smallholder farm typologies in identifying greenhouse gas emissions hotspots, designing quantification experiment and policy framing. We concluded that policies and intervention measures targeting climate-smart agriculture at smallholder farms should consider not only farm-level soil fertility management technologies but also socio-economic characteristics that influence their adoption.

Farmers’ health and wellbeing in the context of changing farming practice: a qualitative study

Abstract Background Farming continues to change globally, with steady industrialization, globalization and climate change and disproportionately high reports of stress and suicide. Little research has been done to understand how changes to farming impact mental health. We aimed to understand how Canadian farmers understand their stressors and experience their health. Methods We recruited 16 small-medium scale, diversified farmers through farm organizations in Grey-Bruce counties in Canada. We interviewed them about their perception of changes in farming, associated stressors, mental health and well-being, and community supports. Using a constructivist paradigm, we coded each interview, discussed results, and formulated emergent themes using thematic analysis. Results Farmers’ relationship to change was complex with both benefits and challenges of changing farm practices, technology and weather for health - a “double-edged sword”. Farmers described the resilience associated with farming which connects them to the land “essentially being at one with place.” Farmers’ work required them to be active, an asset for keeping them healthy, but also a challenge if mobility became restricted. Farmers’ noted overwhelming stress but stated “...the last thing most farmers want to do is admit that they are stressed or have a mental health issue.” Yet “...if you don’t have strong mental health then you can’t really be resilient and cope with the stresses of climate change and all the things that will happen on a farm.” They voiced a perceived lack of support from governments - dealing with bureaucracy, community - experience of isolation or stigma, and health services - an over-stretched, often distant system. Conclusions Farmers’ understandings from Canada will be compared to literature from Europe to demonstrate relevance inform public health programs promoting mental health in rural communities, advocacy for government supports to diversified farmers and evaluation of intervention programs. Key messages Farmers experience change as a double edged sword with benefits and challenges for health and mental health. Public health needs to intervene to meet farmers where they are and to advocate with farmers for further support.

To diversify or not to diversify, that is the question. Pursuing agricultural development for smallholder farmers in marginal areas of Ghana.

Many smallholder farmers in developing countries grow multiple crop species on their farms, maintaining de facto crop diversity. Rarely do agricultural development strategies consider this crop diversity as an entry point for fostering agricultural innovation. This paper presents a case study, from an agricultural research-for-development project in northern Ghana, which examines the relationship between crop diversity and self-consumption of food crops, and cash income from crops sold by smallholder farmers in the target areas. By testing the presence and direction of these relationships, it is possible to assess whether smallholder farmers may benefit more from a diversification or a specialization agricultural development strategy for improving their livelihoods. Based on a household survey of 637 randomly selected households, we calculated crop diversity as well as its contribution to self-consumption (measured as imputed monetary value) and to cash income for each household. With these data we estimated a system of three simultaneous equations. Results show that households maintained high levels of crop diversity: up to eight crops grown, with an-average of 3.2 per household, and with less than 5% having a null or very low level of crop diversity. The value of crop species used for self-consumption was on average 55% higher than that of crop sales. Regression results show that crop diversity is positively associated with self-consumption of food crops, and cash income from crops sold. This finding suggests that increasing crop diversity opens market opportunities for households, while still contributing to self-consumption. Given these findings, crop diversification seems to be more beneficial to these farmers than specialization. For these diversified farmers, or others in similar contexts, interventions that assess and build on their de facto crop diversity are probably more likely to be successful.

Motivations for the use of sustainable intensification practices among smallholder farmers in Tanzania and Malawi

Agricultural techniques and technologies that could foster sustainable intensification of farming (hereafter: SI practices) can originate from existing farm practices, from the adoption of externally suggested new practices, or from an adaptation of existing or new practices. The rate at which farmers use SI practices is often low and influenced by on-farm biophysical and socio-economic conditions. There is a narrow understanding of the role of motivations and the balance between external incentives and intrinsic motivations for use of SI practices. We analysed the role of intrinsic and extrinsic motivations among 246 sampled households alongside the perceived benefits and constraints from SI practices in five districts of Malawi and Tanzania. Our results showed that farmer decisions were not exclusively dependent on external incentives, but also on intrinsic values which farmers attach to their production resources and farming practices. Despite various benefits perceived, farmers highlighted the lack of financial resources as a major constraint to the use of externally proposed SI practices. While we hypothesized that intrinsic motivation would be much stronger than extrinsic in influencing decisions to use SI practices, our results demonstrated equal importance of intrinsic and extrinsic motivations in influencing the number of SI practices which smallholder farmers used. We suggest explicitly addressing both intrinsic and extrinsic motivations in further research in combination with socio-economic and biophysical variables to give a better reflection of what drives farmers’ decisions to use more sustainable farming practices. We argue that the design of SI research programs should support motivations of diversified farmers to participate in such programs. Emphasising farmers’ autonomy, a key to intrinsic motivation, can stimulate ownership of SI projects and smoothen the process of adoption, adaptation and use of SI practices by farmers, and is expected to reduce the mismatch between proposed practices and farmers’ expectations.

Farmers’ vulnerability to global change in Navarre, Spain: large-scale irrigation as maladaptation

Agricultural landscapes are dynamic environments which change in response to cropping and trade opportunities, available technologies and climatic conditions. In this article, we investigate farmers’ vulnerability to climate-related stressors and crop price volatility in rural Navarre, Spain. Specifically, we analyse the extent to which livelihood differences and vulnerability can be partly explained by the development of a large-scale irrigation project promoted by the Spanish and regional governments. Grounded on qualitative and quantitative data gathered across 22 villages, we demonstrate that small-scale diversified farmers appear the most vulnerable and least able to adapt to climate-related stressors and crop price volatility. In contrast, more market-driven, large-scale intensive farmers, who participate in the irrigation project, are the least vulnerable to these stressors. We argue that the irrigation project has increased the short-term adaptive capacity of irrigation adopters while establishing the institutional conditions for the displacement of small-scale farming. Therefore, we suggest that farmers’ vulnerability in Navarre can be explained by maladaptive irrigation policies designed to favour large-scale and market-driven agriculture.

Testimony of Professor Laurie Ristino before the U.S. House of Representatives, Committee on Small Business, June 21, 2018, Hearing on Accelerating Agriculture: How Regulations Impact Small Farmers

This Testimony to the House makes the following points and recommendations regarding the appropriate role of regulation in the agriculture sector, with a focus on supporting small and mid-size farms. In particular: 1. Regulation of the agriculture sector is essential to safeguard public safety and health. 2. At the same time, in some cases, regulations may be better tailored to small farmers and food producers by taking into account their different production methods and associated risks in a way that ensures health and safety while allowing for local innovation. 3. Producer financial and technical assistance as well as public research dollars that assess production methods and associated risks are needed to help level the playing field for small and mid-sized producers. Based on these three points, I will conclude that the question is not whether to regulate, but how to do so in a way that protects the public while fostering innovation at different scales of agricultural and food production. To that end, I offer several practical suggestions for how government can improve regulatory design and outcomes for small farmers and food producers. This testimony explains how regulation is key to ensuring public health and safety related to food production. At the same time, federal regulations like FSMA can be better tailored to facilitate and support small and mid-sized, diversified agriculture production. To better tailor federal regulation and programs to encourage local, diversified food systems several steps should be taken, including supporting research, improving regulatory design, and expanding USDA technical and financial assistance for small, mid-sized and diversified farmers.

Time and technique assessments of labor productivity on diversified organic vegetable farms using a comparative case study approach

As regional food purchasing continues to gain consumer interest, an increasing number of diver­sified vegetable farms have emerged to meet market demand. Many of the small- and midscale vegetable farms selling into local markets, however, face continued challenges concerning the financial decision-making and the viability of their opera­tions. Greater understanding of the consequences of financial, labor, and production-management decisions has the potential to improve the long-term success of these farms. In this exploratory work utilizing a comparative case study approach involving 10 diversified vegetable farms, we con­ducted time and technique studies to assess labor productivity as related to different farm labor and production management decisions. We focused our analysis on three specific activities (transplanting, harvest, and postharvest handling) for five com­mon crops (broccoli, carrots, lettuce, peppers, and squash). Our results showed tremendous farm-to-farm variation in labor productivity, reflecting the diversity of approaches to production and management. Both mechanization and farm size influenced the time required to complete produc­tion and postharvest activities; however, these relationships were not consistent across all crops and activities. While time and technique studies can help farmers to more effectively strategize innova­tions in production practices and equipment pur­chases, farm-specific considerations such as crew size, farm land base, and worker welfare will remain important factors for farmers in assessing the consequences of mechanizing any process and of changing their particular management strategy, as well as the appropriateness of adopting technol­ogies in the context of farm scale and resources. Challenges and weaknesses associated with on-farm participatory time and technique studies were identified, leading to recommendations to create a more feasible system for similar data-collection efforts. The data generated by further expansion on our approach can provide diversified vegetable farmers, food system development professionals, and policy-makers with an additional information to contribute to the successful growth and financial status of diversified vegetable farms serving as vital components of strong local and regional food systems.

Can flexible agricultural microfinance loans limit the repayment risk of low diversified farmers?

Using a unique data set from a commercial microfinance institution in Madagascar, this article investigates the credit risk of microfinance loans with flexible repayment schedules for crop farmers. Flexible repayment schedules allow a redistribution of principal payments during periods with low agricultural returns to periods when agricultural returns are high through predefined grace periods. We apply propensity score matching to investigate how different numbers of grace periods reflecting different levels of production diversification affect the credit risk of crop farmers. In this attempt, three delinquency categories reflecting various levels of credit risk are assessed. Moreover, we consider the specifics of the regions where loans were disbursed. Our results reveal that loans with predefined grace periods show significantly higher delinquencies. This effect is significant over all three delinquency categories for loans disbursed to low diversified crop farmers. For the more diversified farmers, this effect is only significant for the lowest delinquency category. Hence, predefined grace periods might bridge periods with low agricultural returns but come at the cost of higher credit risk for the lender. The magnitude of these effects is, however, small.

Technical Efficiency of Diversification Versus Specialization of Vegetable-Based Farms in the West Region of Cameroon

This study evaluated the efficiency of diversification versus specialization of vegetable-based farms in the West region of Cameroon. The study employed the use of a questionnaire to obtain information from 70 specialized and 54 diversified farmers randomly selected from three purposively selected localities in the West region. The one-step stochastic frontier approach with a Cobb-Douglas model specification was used in analysis. Data was analyzed using the computer program, STATA version 12.0. Findings revealed that majority (71.8%) of vegetable farmers are males, with an average age of 30 years and 73.4% had attained at least a primary education. Results of the stochastic frontier analysis revealed the mean technical efficiency of vegetable farmers to be 0.863. Mean technical efficiency scores for specialized and diversified farmers were found to be 0.867 and 0.858 respectively. However, the results of a standard t-test concluded that technical efficiency is invariant of cropping system. The main sources of inefficiency were identified to be farm size, education, credit and membership to a mutual aid group, while age, sex and access to extension information and services were found to enhance technical efficiency. The study therefore recommends extension services to be reinforced on farmers who receive loan and on those who belong to mutual aid groups, in a bid to increase technical efficiency.

Extent and characteristic of diversification among Hungarian agricultural holdings

Through the connection to rural resources agriculture has an impact on the three functions of countryside: ecology, society and economy. Resources of economy and production environment are continuously changing thus farmers have to adapt to these changing circumstances. One of the adaptation methods is the diversification of activities to promote effective capacity utilization and additional profit. However there is no standard definition of diversification from the point of agricultural economics aspect both traditional approaches and the influence of European Union should also be considered to define it. Diversification and alternative income opportunities could be subsistence possibilities for several farmers. This could be defined not only at private holdings’ but at enterprises’ level. According to a traditional approach Hungarian statistical databases collect on-farm and off-farm agricultural activities depending on the connection to resources of a farm business. Analysing this database an overall picture could be defined considering the position and characteristic of diversified farmers and the popularity of each activity among agricultural producers. Based on a study, published in 2011 (Hamza, 2011) this paper also involves the latest statistical data (2010, 2013). Analysing dataset of period 2000-2013 this paper gives an overall overview about national and regional position and characteristics of diversified holdings and activities.
 JEL code: Q19

Promoting implementation of sustainable development goals in rural Nigeria: I. Poverty issues and its determinants among cassava-based farming households in Akpabuyo Local Government Area, cross river state, Nigeria

This study analyzed the food security situation among cassava-based farming households in Akpabuyo local government area of Cross River state, Nigeria. The objectives were to describe their socio – economic characteristics, determine their food security status and its determinants and make recommendation based on the findings of the study. A multi-stage sampling procedure was used in the selection of wards, communities and cassava-based farming households. Data for the study were collected through the use of structured questionnaires administered to one hundred and three (103) households from 53 communities in the Local Government area. Descriptive statistics, food security indices and logistic regression models were used in data analysis and interpretation. The results showed that the percentages of male to female farmers differed considerably, with most households (59%) consisting of married men and women, thirty three percent (33%) of which were aged 46 years and above. Ninety eight percent (98%) of the households were comprised mostly of Christians, thirty-eight percent (38%) of whom had no formal education. Forty eight percent (48%) of the total number of the cassava farming households had less than 4 member-family sizes. The results showed also that 63.11% of the farming households were food secure, while 36.89% were food insecure. The food security gap and food surplus index showed that the food-secure households exceeded the food security line by 33%, while 59% of food-insecure household fell below the food security line. Also, the mean per capita expenditure for all households was N12, 684.21 while the mean per capita expenditure for food secure and food insecure households were N9000 and N3684.20 respectively. The estimated regression model gave a pseudo of 0.7304. Food security and Poverty status of the households were negatively correlated. The odd ratio in favour of household food security decreased by 0.03% for every unit increase in poverty (P>0.05%). It is recommended that more of the young and energetic youth population, and more women and the vulnerable be encouraged to engage themselves more in cassava and other crops’ enterprises; that household sizes be controlled to manageable numbers, and sizes of their farm lands optimally expanded. Finally, sources of farmers’ income should be diversified and cassava farmers should be encouraged to form and/or join cooperative societies so as to build and benefit from ensuing “social capital”, as well as be in positions to benefit from possible incentives of government(s).