Farm Households Research Articles

Livelihood adaptation strategies of farming households to land acquisition: A case study in Vietnam

The livelihoods of households affected by land acquisition in rural Vietnam are crucial for sustainable development and community resilience. This study employs the sustainable livelihoods approach, which recognises the interconnectedness between various factors shaping livelihood outcomes, to investigate factors behind livelihood changes among 474 farm households affected by land acquisition in rural Vietnam. By applying Multinomial Logit (MNL) regression, this paper delves into how personal and household characteristics influence the transition from farming to non-farming activities in agrarian settings. Our findings reveal the diverse and multifaceted impacts of various factors such as gender, age, educational level, household size, household labour force, and the extent of land loss on livelihood strategy choices. This study offers nuanced insights that can guide policymakers and practitioners to design effective interventions that promote sustainable livelihoods and enhance community resilience amidst the challenges posed by land acquisition and rural transformation.

Can farmers' digital literacy improve income? Empirical evidence from China.

This paper explore the impacts and mechanisms of digital literacy of farm households on income. The baseline regression of the impact of digital literacy of farm households on household income uses a fixed effects regression model, and the 2SLS regression model is used to address the endogeneity problem present in the model. The findings reveal that improving digital literacy among rural households significantly increases their family income, a result that remains robust even after considering endogeneity issues. Further examination of the mechanisms shows that enhancing digital literacy among rural households significantly improves their information acquisition capabilities and cognitive skills. It also deepens financial services, boosting the usage and engagement of rural households in digital financial activities, thereby enhancing family income levels. Facilitating rural residents' access to digital skills and tools to ride the digital economic wave, ensuring fair access, and achieving sustainable family income are of paramount significance for rural revitalization. It is also a crucial step in bridging the digital divide and promoting shared prosperity.

Factors influencing the expressed willingness to transition from collection to cultivation of non-timber forest products: The case of Caesalpinia spinosa in southern Ecuador

Planting trees with additional non-timber products (NTFPs) (such as fruits) in agricultural lands is emerging as an important strategy in Forest Landscape Restoration (FLR) to enhance the provision of ecosystem services and improve habitat quality. In many cases, the planting of NTFP trees follows a transition from collecting NTFPs in natural forests to integrating the respective trees into agricultural farms with ecological and socio-economic implications. Therefore, understanding the current practice and challenges of current NTFP collection and willingness for cultivation is crucial to effectively use such land-use trajectories for FLR. In this study, we investigate the case of Caesalpinia spinosa (tara), whose fruits provide an emerging NTFP in southern Ecuador. Using household data from 125 households currently collecting tara fruits, we first describe the relatively young production system and then use a Heckman two-step econometric model to identify the factors influencing the expressed willingness to cultivate tara trees on farms and the area to be cultivated. The econometric model results show that the characteristics of tara collection and trade (gender of collectors, distance to the collection site, and management practices) are important determinants of tara cultivation. However, it's the household labor availability and farm characteristics that play a significant role in impacting the willingness to cultivate. The area to be cultivated was mainly influenced by household labor and economic characteristics, and tara collection and trade (management practices) characteristics. Our findings help to understand NTFP-related land-use transitions, thus supporting the design of appropriate and specific policy interventions for the sustainable development of NTFPs.

Can the Use of Digital Finance Promote the Enhancement and Quality Improvement of Household Consumption Among Farmers?

The key strategic point for facilitating domestic circulation is to enhance and expand household consumption. Based on a survey of 1080 farming households in Hunan, Hubei, and Jilin Provinces, this study examines the impact of digital finance use on the scale and structural upgrading of household consumption among farmers. The findings indicate that digital finance use effectively expands the scale of household consumption and promotes structural upgrades. The results remain robust through various endogenous and robust methods. Heterogeneity analysis reveals that the benefits of digital finance use are greater for middle- to high-income groups and those with lower education levels, indicating the presence of a digital divide effect. Furthermore, the construction of village communities, skill training, improvements in village logistics services, and the availability of medical clinic facilities can enhance the consumption-promoting effects of digital finance use. Mechanism analysis shows that digital finance primarily operates through alleviating credit constraints, enhancing risk prevention, and improving financial returns to influence the scale and structural upgrading of household consumption. This study provides policy insights for rural revitalization and unlocking the consumption potential of rural residents.

Evaluation of the determinants of honey producers' market outlet choices in Huye District, Southern Province of Rwanda

Beekeeping is a profitable and socially beneficial farming business among Sub-Saharan Africa’s rural forest-based communities. Honey production, which is crucial for farm household health and nutrition in Rwanda’s forest-based rural communities, is growing significantly. However, various factors influence farm household heads’ decisions regarding the best outlets for delivering honey to the nearest market. It is vital to identify these factors to optimize honey production and marketing activities. Hence, this research was conducted in Rwanda’s Southern province, where agriculture and forestry are the primary economic activities to identify the potential factors. Using a cross-sectional approach, with primary data collected over a specific period, the economic data of honey producers were analyzed using STATA version 16. In total, 152 respondents were sampled using multi-stage sampling technique. A multivariate probit regression was used to assess the determinants of market outlet choices for honey producers. The results showed that education level, distance to market, training and credit access, extension service, market information, farming experience, time spent on honey collection, quantity sold, communication, and transport cost significantly influenced honey producers' market outlet choices. To increase profits, honey producers should increase honey collection time and sales, improve client communication, form cooperatives, and negotiate better prices with potential buyers. Driving personal vehicles can also reduce transportation costs. The government and industry stakeholders can support producers by offering credit loans, market information, extension services, marketing infrastructure, and adult education. To improve honey marketing channels, industry connections should be strengthened, and capacity-building training provided to raise producer awareness.

Farmers’ adaptation to climate change in Pakistan: Can their climate risk management strategies lead to sustainable agriculture?

Farming communities in many developing nations are facing the impacts of climate change, characterized by greater variability and frequency of extreme weather events, which threaten their livelihoods and the agricultural sector as a whole. Agricultural sustainability is at risk when farmers engage in off-farm activities to protect their economic future and combat climate change. This study aimed to identify the determinants of off-farm management activities adoption and highlight the issues faced by farmers after their adoption in agriculture. The data were collected data through a questionnaire survey from 360 farm households in Pakistan. The study utilized a stepwise probit regression to analyse the adoption of land use and migration-based diversification as risk management strategies. The results indicated that marital status, household size, risk perception of rains, floods, drought, and extreme weather were the factors determining the adoption of land use and migration-based diversification as risk management strategies. However, livestock showed a negative association with the adoption of these strategies. Moreover, the study identified crop failure as the primary reason to adopt off-farm strategies, followed by rising production costs. The results showed that farmers were managing climate change risks at the cost of farmland, labour loss, and increased production costs. The study is unique in its focus on the unanticipated negative effects of this adaptation. The findings emphasize the need for investment in climate-smart agriculture and financial assistance for farmers. Building a sustainable agricultural system needs more than just adaptation: long-term practices and financial protections to stabilize farmers' incomes and help rural areas develop.

Technical Efficiency of Smallholder Dairy Farms in Rural Assam: A Double Bootstrap Data Envelopment Analysis Approach

Analysing a sample of 245 smallholder rural dairy farms in Assam, it is found that most dairy farms operate at technically inefficient level. The analysis of input-oriented conventional and bias-corrected data envelopment analysis (DEA) procedure entails that most farms produce milk below the production frontier with underlying scope of reducing variable input component up to 50% to retain the same level of output. Further, exploring the bias-corrected efficiency score determinants, it is found that input use decision is superior for male-headed households, farms that are involved in fodder cultivation, farms with proximity to markets and resource poor farmers whose dairy farming is mostly a principal source of income. The findings of the study indicate presence of ample scope and potential to leverage the technical efficiency (TE) and thereby increase the socio-economic wellbeing of the smallholder dairy farm households in the state. The study also points towards the need for sensitising farmers about the improved dairy farm technologies such as artificial insemination to produce more crossbred cattle along with building a strong network of extension machineries.

Estimating farmers’ willingness to pay for crop insurance with application of choice experiment: case study in South Gondar Zone, Ethiopia

PurposeThis study aims to estimate farmers’ willingness to pay for crop insurance, utilizing a choice experiment case study in the South Gondar Zone, Ethiopia.Design/methodology/approachPrimary cross-sectional data were collected in 2023 from 240 farm households. The choice experiment method was employed to elicit farmers’ willingness to pay for crop insurance. Five attributes, including monetary cost, were identified for the choice experiment, with two improved scenarios and a status quo presented to respondents. The mixed logit model and extended mixed logit model were used for analysis.FindingsThe econometric model indicated that, with the exception of one attribute, all were positive and statistically significant. Farmers showed a preference for improved scenarios over the status quo, demonstrating a willingness to pay for crop insurance. The extended mixed logit model revealed that factors such as livestock ownership, household head’s sex, family size, income, farming experience, crop risk exposure, and additional occupations significantly influenced farmers’ preferences for crop insurance.Research limitations/implicationsThe study’s sample size was limited to 240 farm households, which is relatively small. More reliable results could be obtained with a larger sample size. Another significant limitation is the study’s failure to account for institutional setups when assessing farmers’ willingness to pay for crop insurance.Practical implicationsAgricultural risk, particularly crop risk, is severe in the study area. The results suggest that farmers have a genuine need for risk mitigation mechanisms, such as crop insurance. The findings reflect farmers’ interest in crop insurance, indicating that responsible entities, whether governmental or private insurance companies, can readily implement crop insurance schemes.Social implicationsThe study has significant social implications, as the society in the study area is highly vulnerable to crop risk, which adversely affects their livelihood. Introducing a crop insurance scheme could enhance the welfare and livelihood of the local population.Originality/valueTo the best of our knowledge, this study is novel in both concept and methodology. Unlike previous studies, which focused on specific crop risks, this study considers multiple crop risks. The findings offer valuable insights for policymakers and other stakeholders involved in crop insurance. Understanding farmers’ preferences for crop insurance is crucial for designing effective crop insurance policies.

Explicating the Role of Agricultural Socialized Services on Chemical Fertilizer Use Reduction: Evidence from China Using a Double Machine Learning Model

Reducing chemical usage, particularly chemical fertilizers, is a crucial measure for advancing sustainable agricultural development. This study utilized field survey data from 894 maize farmers across three northeastern provinces of China. A double machine learning modeling framework was established to empirically examine the impact and mechanism of agricultural socialized services on chemical fertilizer use of farm households. The model addresses numerous stringent constraints of conventional causal inference models and effectively mitigates the “curse of dimensionality” issue. Current research indicates that agricultural socialized services can substantially decrease chemical fertilizer use among farmers. Further investigation reveals that these services facilitate this reduction by enhancing the mechanization level, promoting the use of organic fertilizers, and providing a labor substitution effect. The region heterogeneity test indicates that the impact of agricultural socialized services is more pronounced in Liaoning and Heilongjiang provinces geographically. Regarding the heterogeneity analysis of food crop income levels, agricultural socialized services can decrease chemical fertilizer use among farmers more effectively with elevated food crop income levels. Consequently, the findings imply that the socialization of agricultural services has substantial potential to be an effective chemical fertilizer reduction strategy to support the agricultural green transition, which can be enhanced through promoting the degree of mechanization, organic fertilizer application, and labor division and specialization.

Effects of seasonal climate forecasts on livelihood outcomes: a case of smallholder farmers in rural Zambia

In as much as seasonal climate forecasts are an essential tool for supporting livelihoods in rainfed agriculture production, the effects of seasonal climate forecasts on income and yield at the agro ecological zone and wealth quartile levels are not sufficiently researched in Zambia. In order to close this gap, we focused on investigating the impacts of using climate information on productivity and income, while using an endogenous switching regression on a representative subnational and national level data from 7241 agricultural households. Using STATA 17 for analysis, the study found that smallholder farmers who integrated seasonal climate forecasts outperformed those who did not have the information, achieving higher yields (421.54 kg/ha). The localized effects of seasonal forecasting by agro ecological zone indicated that low rainfall areas had significant yield gains than other zones, and wealth results for wealth quartiles showed that farmers in higher quartiles had better yield (126.14 kg/ha) and income (1509.44 kg/ha) gains.. This study therefore recommends that policymakers develop policies and strategies that are region-specific to foster climate awareness to and integration of adaptation techniques by farmers. Additionally, the study also recommends the provision of social safety net to less-endowed farmers as well as investing in better early warning systems to enhance participation in using forecasted information for a sustainable future.

Determinants of Poverty among Farming Household in South-East Nigeria

Determinants of Poverty among Farming Household in South-East Nigeria

Multi-Stakeholder Game Relationships in Promoting the Development of the Non-Timber Forest Product Industry by State-Owned Forest Farms

State-owned forest farms are key players in managing forestry resources worldwide, playing a pivotal role in advancing the development of the non-timber forest product industry. This paper constructs a tripartite evolutionary game model involving “government–state-owned forest farms–farmer households” to delve into how state-owned forest farms collaborate with governments and farmer households to propel the growth of the non-timber forest product industry. Additionally, it explores the interactive relationships among multiple stakeholders and their asymptotic stability. The findings reveal that (1) under certain conditions, the game model can achieve four stable equilibrium strategies: (0,0,0), (0,1,0), (0,1,1), and (1,1,1). (2) Key factors influencing the tripartite game include the political performance and administrative costs of local governments involved in the industry’s development, assessment performance and reduced management and protection expenses of state-owned forest farms, and sales revenue and planting costs of farmers’ under-forest products. (3) The market development costs shared by state-owned forest farms and government subsidies for under-forest planting should be within a reasonable range. This ensures effective promotion of farmers’ participation in under-forest planting while maintaining the willingness of state-owned forest farms and governments to actively engage. These findings provide concrete guidelines that policymakers can use to spur sustainable growth in the NTFP sector.

Digital tools and welfare: adoption determinants among ginger producers in Southern and Central Ethiopia

IntroductionLow adoption rates of digital tools in agricultural extension services persisted among smallholder ginger producers in Southern and Central Ethiopia, despite their recognized benefits. This study investigated the factors that drove or hindered digital tool adoption in this context.MethodsA mixed-methods approach was used, combining qualitative interviews and quantitative data analysis. The Endogenous Switching Regression model was applied to examine the socio-economic, institutional, and technological factors affecting adoption.ResultsThe results showed that digital tool adoption significantly enhanced both agricultural productivity and household income among smallholder farmers. Key determinants included access to digital infrastructure, availability of ICT resources, and tailored extension services.DiscussionThe findings suggested a need for policies that promoted digital adoption, emphasizing infrastructure investment, expanded ICT access, and the development of specialized extension programs. These actions were seen as crucial for advancing rural livelihoods, supporting sustainable agriculture, and stabilizing the regional economy.

Financial Literacy And Inclusion Of Farmers And Fishermen: A Case Study In Tawiri Village And Dusun Seri Ambon City Island, Maluku Indonesia

Financial literacy and financial inclusion are needed to improve people's lives through Financial Services Institutions. The 2016 and 2019 National Surveys on Financial Literacy and Inclusion show that the financial literacy index of farmers and fishermen is the lowest compared to other types of work. Indonesia has considerable potential for agricultural land and marine fisheries, especially in Ambon City. This study aims to determine the effect of financial literacy on financial inclusion for farmers and fishermen. The research method is a survey of 65 households of farmers and fishermen—data analysis using SMART PLS4.0 software. The results showed that knowledge or literacy and attitudes affect skills, while skills affect access. Furthermore, access and trust affect inclusion. The implication is that improving skills and attitudes will improve access; access affects trust, which determines financial inclusion.

From Perception to Practices: Adoption of Ecosystem-Based Adaptation in Vietnam Upland Areas—A Case Study in Thua Thien Hue Province

In the context of increasing interest in ecosystem-based adaptation (EbA), there remains a paucity of discussion regarding the transition from perception to practice in aiding farmer households to adapt to climate change (CC) while maintaining the provision of essential ecosystem services. Thus, this study aims to explore policymakers’ and local people’s perceptions, from thinking about the implementation of EbA strategies to responding to CC in current and future agricultural production and forestry in upland Thua Thien Hue province, Vietnam. This study has adopted the Model of Private Proactive Adaptation to CC to investigate the perceptions of EbA among various administrative and household levels through in-depth interviews and focus group discussion methods. Our findings indicate a significant relationship between the perceptions and understanding of EbA among policymakers and farmer households, and the adoption of EbA practices. Many EbA practices are already well-established and have demonstrated their ability to enhance ecosystem services provision, adaptation benefits, and livelihood and food security. These benefits are crucial for helping farmer households to adapt to CC. However, current financial, technical, and market constraints hinder the broader adoption of these practices. Therefore, to increase adaptive capacity to CC and upscale EbA practices, EbA interventions must consider technical, financial, and market aspects. Furthermore, it is essential to provide evidence from both scientific and practical perspectives and disseminate information on EbA practices to encourage broader adoption by local farmers. In addition, supportive policies from various departmental and agency levels are necessary for managers in the agricultural and forest sectors as well as households to recognize EbA as a vital strategy for developing agriculture and forestry in a manner that is sustainable and resilient to CC.

Agricultural Land Rental Arrangements in Nepal: Incidence, Forms, Determinants, and the Current Legal Provisions

Given the fragmented and small size of land holdings in Nepal, the viability of crop production is a pressing concern. Rental or tenancy arrangements, which equalise marginal returns from factors of production across households, offer a solution to this viability crisis. In this context, our study is unique as it not only examines the incidence and forms of tenancy, but also identifies the determinants of the land leasing decision of rural households, and discusses their implications for agrarian development in Nepal. Drawing on primary survey data from 350 households in six districts of plains and hills, we provide evidence of the widespread prevalence of informal tenancy in Nepal. Despite locational variations explained by the location-specific cropping patterns, sharecropping and fixed-rent are found to be the primary forms of tenancy contracts. A Tobit regression analysis identifies certain household level, farm level, and location-specific characteristics as important factors influencing land leasing decisions. Our analysis suggests that the land supply in the land lease market may increase in the future, and therefore, it is pertinent to examine the legal provisions that govern the use of such lands. Hence, we also examine the legal provisions concerning tenancy relations.

Evaluation of Agricultural Pattern and Socio-economic Conditions Due to Flooding in Tangail Region, Bangladesh

Nowadays, flooding is a serious problem in Bangladesh. Excess rainfall, poor drainage patterns, and the inability of the soil to store much water are the common causes of flooding and the Tangail is the most affected area. The purpose of this study is to find out the problems of agricultural patterns due to flooding and farmers socio-economic conditions. The study was conducted at Tangail Sadar, Nagarpur, Delduar, Bhuapur, Kalihati, Dhanbari, Gopalpur, Basail, and Mirzapur Upazilas in Tangail District. The investigation was based on primary data collection, field visits, secondary data sources, and conceptual methods. The study area was measured by interviews, group discussions, and survey methods. Data were collected by questionnaires with a sample size of 100. Flooding's detrimental effects on food grain and agricultural output values point to a threat to small and marginal farming households' ability to secure food. There is a significant change in the occupational pattern in the area due to flooding. Flooding is highly responsible for the changes in livelihood patterns and the economy. The effects of occupational change decrease income levels. About 84% of household members opined that they have changed their housing pattern due to flooding. Most of the land property (90%) was covered by flooding time. Due to flooding and diarrhea, typhoid, skin diseases, and viral diseases, the eye is an alarming health risk for helpless people. About 52% of tube wells were affected due to flooding. This research simply suggests that the development works associated with the flooding should be managed suitably and recommends that an Environmental Impact Assessment is a prerequisite for the development activities.

Characterising diversity of rural farm households in Eastern Africa: implications for food security and intra-household decision-making

The heterogeneity in East African small-holder agricultural systems influences the farm households’ welfare outcomes. We examine the heterogeneity of rural farm households in Eastern Africa and the influence of such diversity on household food security and how these relate to intra-household decision-making dynamics. Using data from the Rural Household Multi-Indicator Survey (RHoMIS) 1,199 households in Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi and Uganda were typologized using partition-based cluster analysis. These were grouped into relatively homogenous classes reflecting their socio-demographic characteristics, resource endowment and farm orientation based at a country level to reflect the unique institutional conditions within these countries. Additional analysis was then used to characterise the differences in food insecurity and intra-household decision-making of these clusters. Five distinct farm household clusters were identified in Ethiopia and Kenya, four in Malawi and three in Uganda. The main factors differentiating the farm clusters were educational attainment of the household head, levels of resource endowment, market orientation and off-farm income. Market orientated clusters and clusters comprising more educated household heads were generally more food secure across all countries. In Ethiopia, Kenya and Uganda, women had greater decision-making control in clusters comprising least educated household heads. Female decision-making control was negatively associated with the resource endowment of clusters in Kenya, Malawi and Uganda. This emphasises the importance of understanding rural farm household heterogeneity when tailoring interventions to target household food insecurity and gender inequity in decision-making in Eastern Africa.

Factors Influence the Adoption of Improved Agricultural Practices among Smallholder Farmers in the Ripat Program: A Case of Morogoro Municipality, Tanzania

Maize plays a significant role in securing food insecurity mostly in developing countries such as Africa, especially in Tanzania where it is a main dietary staple for most people. This research assesses the factors influencing corn production levels among small-scale farmers who benefit from the RIPAT SUA Project in Morogoro, Tanzania. The project aims to improve maize production and food security through improved agriculture practices such as fertilizer use and intercropping methods. This study employed a cross-sectional design with 110 smallholder farmers. Information was collected through semi-structured questionnaires and analyzed using descriptive and bivariate probit regression models. Findings reveal that household income, farm size, farmer experience, and training play a crucial role in adopting improved agriculture practices. Notably a significant finding is that a higher income household income increases the chances of using fertilizer by 16.9% (p= 0.015) and receiving training improves the likelihood of adopting intercropping by 8.47% (p = 0.007). However, education alone does not have a noticeable impact signifying that specialized training could be more effective in improving adoption rates among small farmers with limited formal education. The research findings conclude that increased training opportunities, specifically for farmers with minimal education, and matching access to credit availability with agricultural investment. This measure will assist small-scale in boosting productivity, eventually supporting the sustainable growth of agriculture in Tanzania.

Determinants for Farmers’ Willingness to Pay for Positively Selected Local Chicks in Eastern and Central Uganda

Despite rising demand, the supply of local chickens is declining, with their market share dropping from 87.7% to 69.9%, while exotic chicken populations have quadrupled from 4.6 million in 2008 to 17.8 million by 2021. To address this, the National Agricultural Research Organization is improving the production and productivity of Local chickens through positive selection of local chickens. This study investigates farmers’ willingness to pay for Positively selected Local Chicks (PLC) in Central and Eastern Uganda. A study involving 305 randomly selected poultry farming households from Central and Eastern Uganda. The study applies a probit model, to analyze the determinants that influence the probability that poultry farmers are willing to pay the market price bid (2700 UGX) for day-old positively selected local chicks. The dependent variable was the probability that poultry farmers are willing to pay the prevailing average market price whereby, they were categorized as 1= willingness to pay 2700 UGX and 0=Not willing to pay. An ordered probit model was used to analyze factors that influence the choice of price to be paid for a day-old positively selected Local chick. The dependent variable was the range of prices poultry farmers are willing to pay for day-old positively selected local chicken. Prices ranged from 1890, 2160, 2430, 2565, 2700, 2835, 2970, 3240, and 3510. They were categorized into; <i>lower bid </i>(less than 2700) market price bid (2700) and high bid (more than 2700 UGX). The study further analyzed the factors that influenced the maximum price that farmers are willing to pay for day-old positively selected local chicken, multiple linear regression was used. The study revealed that 89.84% of farmers were willing to pay the lowest price (1890 UGX) for day-old positively selected local chicks, while only 25.57% were willing to pay the market price of 2700 UGX. Factors influencing willingness to pay include the age of the farmer, household size, total land owned, education level, access to credit, membership in a farmer’s group, phone ownership, distance to the nearest market, and radio ownership. These findings suggest that targeted interventions are needed to enhance the adoption of positively selected local chicks.