Promotion Of Conservation Agriculture Research Articles

The Contribution of Conservation Agriculture on Environmental Protection in Rwanda

Purpose: The study aimed to assess the contribution of Conservation agriculture on Environmental protection in Rwanda: case of Kayonza District. Materials and Methods: The study reviewed different studies related to Conservation agriculture and Environmental protection and used qualitative and quantitative approaches. The Data were collected using a questionnaire and face-to-face interview on Sample composed by 404 Respondents from Kayonza district. The data collected and analyzed by using Distributive statistics. Findings: The study indicated that CA techniques are contributing in environmental protection and there is a relationship between adopting Conservation Agriculture (CA) techniques and environmental protection. The decrease in organic matter content and high soil erosion are affecting soil fertility and health and one of the main causes of global warming is also intensive chemical fertilization of agricultural crops. In contrast, CA techniques combine minimum soil disturbance, mulching, water holding capacity, reduce soil compaction, reduce soil erosion and improve soil fertility and application of organic fertilizers and re use of crop residues, Study have shown that farmers who adopt CA experience the improvement and there improve. The study underscores the importance of adopting CA techniques to reduce the cost and protect environment. Implications to Theory, Practice and Policy: By adopting CA practices, farmers can contribute to the protection of natural resources, conservation of biodiversity, and mitigation of climate change while maintaining agricultural productivity by promoting sustainable land management practices that conserve soil, water, and biodiversity, mitigate climate change impacts, and reduce environmental degradation associated with conventional agricultural practices. But not all small holder farmers involved in implementing all CA techniques due to different factors, NGOs and Government can collaborate to develop subsidies, grants, and funding programs specifically aimed to promote conservation agriculture. By adopting CA techniques, agriculture in the next decade will have to sustainably produce more food from less land through more efficient use of natural resources and with minimal impact on the environment in order to meet growing population demands.

Effects of different tillage on morpho-physiological traits of dryland chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.)

The study of different types of tillage can be effective in promoting conservation agriculture for chickpea cultivation. The present experiment was conducted to study the effects of different soil management (reduced tillage (RT), no-tillage (NT), and conventional tillage (CT)) on morpho-physiological characteristics of chickpea in a complete randomized block design field experiment with three replications during the 2017–2019 cropping seasons. In this experiment effects of soil management on mycorrhizal colonization and sporulation, rhizobium nodules, relative leaf water content, leaf area index, chlorophyll and carotenoids, chlorophyll fluorescence, canopy temperature, enzymes, proline, hydrogen peroxide, malondialdehyde, leaf soluble proteins, carbohydrates, and leaf P and N content were investigated in early grain filling were evaluated. The highest activity of antioxidant enzymes including catalase (0.066 U/mg−1Protein min−1), peroxidase (1.22 U/mg−1Protein min−1), and superoxide dismutase (0.69 U/mg−1Protein min−1) were observed in the plants grown under CT practice, while the lowest were observed under NT system. In NT, the lowest amounts of malondialdehyde and carotenoids were retrieved compared to the conventional tillage. CT determined a reduction in chlorophyll in leaves compared to RT (13 %) and NT (36.2 %), respectively. The highest rate of canopy temperature depression occurred in no-tillage system. The highest remobilization from stems to seeds was respectively obtained from conventional tillage, reduced tillage and no-tillage treatments. In no-tillage, leaf area index, quantum efficiency of PSII (chlorophyll fluorescence), relative water content, leaf nitrogen, and leaf phosphorus increased compared to reduced tillage and conventional tillage, respectively. The rate of colonization and sporulation of mycorrhizal fungi and the number of rhizobium nodules significantly increased under NT compared to RT and CT systems. The results in this experiment showed that the NT system improved relative leaf water content, reduced antioxidant enzymes, and positive effects on measured morpho-physiological traits increased the yield and stability of chickpea compared to RT and CT systems under rainfed conditions.

Promoting Conservation Agriculture in Rural Nigeria: Relevance of Environmental Literacy Education

Agricultural practice in Nigeria includes farming, fishing and herdskeeping. However, in the rural areas, farming tends to dominate the practice; hence, the term agriculture is generally used interchangeably with farming. Farmers in rural Nigeria generally adopt the traditional method of farming which involves environmentally unfriendly processes known to result in low productivity and income, occasioning the ultimate impoverishment of the farmers. Conservation/ Non-Tillage Agriculture is being advocated globally as a veritable alternative towards the solution of the adverse effect of both the traditional farming method and the contemporary incidence of climate change. Although global statistics indicate that Africa experienced relative increase in her land area under CA between 2007/2008 and 2012, nonetheless, Nigeria was conspicuously not among countries with up to 340 hectares (ha) of land area under CA in Sub-Saharan Africa. With the several known benefits of the CA system, there is a need to promote the adoption of the system by farmers in rural Nigeria. However, the constraints limiting the adoption of the CA system, as well as the notable hiatus in the spurring elements of the farmers’ demographic/ educational profile call for salient approaches (including education) towards promotion of CA among the farmers. The purpose of this paper is to expound the latent benefits and challenges of the CA system, the necessary strategies for the promotion of the system and the pertinence of Environmental Literacy Education to the promotion and adoption of CA in Rural Nigeria.

Conservation Agriculture Input Costs on Livelihood Outcomes of Farmers in Makueni and Machakos Counties

There is need to facilitate the growth and productivity of agriculture to reduce poverty and since most poor people are concentrated in rural areas especially in sub-Saharan Africa. This can be achieved by promoting conservation agriculture which has been proven to increase productivity while conserving the environment at the same time in other parts of the world. With limited evidence on the impact of conservation agriculture on livelihood outcomes in Kenya, the current study sought to investigate the effect of input costs of conservation agriculture on livelihood outcomes of smallholder farmers in Makueni and Machakos Counties. The study employed cross-sectional survey as a research design. The Cochran formula was used with a 5% level of significance to obtain sample size of 384 respondents. The study relied on stratified random sampling to achieve a high degree of representation from groups with the desired characteristics. Qualitative data was be subjected to content analysis while quantitative data was analyzed using both descriptive and inferential statistics. Findings show that the cost of inputs attributable to conservation agriculture has a positive influence on livelihood outcomes of smallholder farmers in Makueni and Machakos counties. The costs studied included labour requirements, farm equipment and mulching. It was concluded that conservation agriculture reduces input costs which ultimately increases crop yield and hence, better livelihood outcomes. The study recommended that the government at national and county levels should take responsibly in creating awareness on CA practices across the country and provide any necessary support for the farmers to embrace this noble practice.

Promoting Conservation Agriculture through Push-Pull Technology as an Agroecological Transition

Promoting Conservation Agriculture through Push-Pull Technology as an Agroecological Transition

Effects of agricultural extension system on promoting conservation agriculture in Shaanxi Plain, China

Understanding the service quality of the agricultural extension system (AES) and its role in promoting conservation agriculture (CA) is crucial to enhancing farmers' response to climate change and improving sustainable agriculture. This study conducted surveys on agricultural information channels accessed by farmers, the perception of farmers and AES workers regarding AES, as well as factors that influence the AES promoting farmers' CA adoption via 363 respondents (262 farmers and 101 AES workers) in the Shaanxi Plain in northern China. Data were analyzed by logistic regression and covariance base structural equation model (CB-SEM). The result showed that farmers trust their neighbors the most as the agricultural information channel, followed by model farmers, village leaders, retailers, and information and communication technology (ICT), while they trust the AES staff the least. Their trust is significantly affected by gender, age, years of education received, household income, and cooperative qualifications. Significant gaps exist in the perception of farmers and AES workers regarding the performance of AES, farmers have significantly lower satisfaction with the availability, accessibility, and relevance of AES. AES has no direct effect on farmers' CA adoption, but it indirectly promotes farmers' CA adoption through the mediating effects by farmers' environmental awareness (21.4%) and the chain mediating effect of farmers' information exchange and environmental awareness (19.2%). These results suggest that there is still a communication gap between farmers and AES workers, and farmers' information exchange and environmental awareness need to be considered to improve the efficiency of AES and farmers’ CA adoption.

Factors influencing the adoption of conservation agriculture by smallholder farmers in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

AbstractThe various efforts done to promote conservation agriculture (CA) in the Sub-Saharan Africa and the Republic of South Africa have diminished over time. This study was carried out to determine the factors that influenced the adoption of CA in the Okhahlamba Local Municipality of Uthukela District Municipality in Kwa-Zulu Natal Province of South Africa. It used a dataset collected through a structured questionnaire from 273 smallholder farmers. A systematic random sampling technique was used to select the households, whereas descriptive statistics (such as frequency count and percentages) and logistic regression analysis were used to determine the factors that influenced the adoption of CA. The results revealed that the respondents’ age, access to credit, visits by extension agents, and training showed a significant influence on the adoption of CA practices by farmers. The results emphasized the important role of extension agents and of more female farmers in the promotion of CA practices. The study recommended intentional and direct effort by all stakeholders in promoting and encouraging farmers’ participation at all age levels, and to make the CA programmes flexible to accommodate the illiterate farming households. The study further recommended additional extension agents to adequately guide and train farmers on CA through all-inclusive extension services.

The Potential of Conservation Agriculture on Crop Yield in the Democratic Republic of Congo

Purpose: One of the reasons for promoting conservation agriculture (CA) in Sub-Saharan Africa is its association with an increase in crop yield for smallholder farmers. However, the yield increase and stability attributed to CA remain without consistent and harmonised debate. The study assessed the impact of CA on crop yield, as well as the factors driving adoption, and the challenges that farmers face when using CA in Kisangani, Democratic Republic of Congo. Theoretical framework: The study employed the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology as its theoretical framework. Method: A structured questionnaire was randomly administered to 192 CA farmers to collect data through a multistage sampling process. Descriptive and multinomial logistic regression analyses were used to examine associations and possible predictors influencing farmers’ adoption and crop yield. Results and conclusions: The results show that CA has a positive impact on crop yields, particularly for cassava and rice. In addition, farmers are impelled to use CA because of increased yield and soil fertility, both of which are achieved overtime. The study suggests using organic fertilisers locally produced to enhance the immediate outcome expected by farmers. The lack of extension service coverage is a major constraint, which translates into a lack of knowledge about CA in the farmers’ practices, specifically inappropriate crop rotation and agronomic practices, which result in low maize yield. The study recommends the agricultural sector improve CA awareness and training sessions with farmers. Research implications: The results imply that CA should be promoted by minimising limitations and maximising motivating factors in order to produce more food in a sustainable manner. Originality/value: The study’s originality lies in investigating the feasibility and relevance of CA from the beneficiaries' perspectives, as well as testing the theory of the effect of conservation agriculture within the setup of Kisangani, Democratic Republic of Congo.

Agroclimatic Zones and Cropping Systems in the Southwestern Regions of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia: Characterization, Classification and Improvement Potential

The southwestern regions of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) are geographically and agriculturally diverse. Over millennia, crop production in these regions has evolved to use renewable water resources sustainably. This study analysed environmental and crop production data for 58 governorates in KSA’s four southwestern regions: Al Baha, Aseer, Jazan and Makkah. The biplot analysis generated six clusters of cropping systems: sorghum, cereals, dates, watermelon, vegetables and fruits, and mixed. The main biophysical factors shaping these systems are topography, altitude, rainfall, air temperature and soils. Sorghum, grown on more than half of the cultivated land, dominates the two main systems. Fruits (subtropical and temperate) and open field vegetables are important elements in most systems. The main challenge is combining a moderate use of water with greater crop diversity. Cereals consume relatively little water, but their dominance within the systems reduces overall diversity. Another important issue is the low-input technologies used to cultivate sorghum and other cereals. Landraces or older varieties are planted and little, if any, fertilizers and pesticides are applied. The introduction of sustainable intensification packages is needed, which can begin with making improved varieties accessible to farmers, promoting conservation agriculture, and integrated pest management practices.

The influence of smartphone use on conservation agricultural practice: Evidence from the extension of rice-green manure rotation system in China

Although the impact of smartphone use has aroused widespread public interest, its effect on promoting conservation agriculture has never been revealed. We developed an integrated model to explain the scientific question of how smartphone use influence farmers' behavior of adopting a conservation agricultural practice—rice-green manure rotation system (RGRS). Based on a sample set containing 934 respondents, the causal chain was estimated by using the PLS-SEM with bootstrapping. The results showed that smartphone use directly contributes to farmers' RGRS adoption behavior, which provides new evidence for promoting the popularization of intelligent terminals in rural China. Another finding was that, perceived environmental degradation threats and environmental services of RGRS mediated the relationship between smartphone use and farmers' adoption behavior. This discovery provides us with enlightenment that knowledge related to environmental degradation and environmental services of RGRS can be imported into smartphone Apps commonly used by farmers to increase information exposure, raise environmental awareness and regulate farmer behavior. Besides, smartphone use reduced farmers' satisfaction with governmental support for RGRS, which adversely affected farmers' RGRS adoption behavior. Surprisingly, we found that the use of some traditional media helped to improve farmers' satisfaction. Therefore, policymakers should not ignore the role of traditional media while making use of smartphone-based information tools. These results can help policymakers better understand the contribution of smartphone use to conservation agriculture, and inform the development of supportive policies.

Conservation agriculture for food security and climate resilience in Nepal

AbstractAchieving the sustainable development goals of the United Nations requires innovations in agriculture and development of climate‐smart and economically feasible approaches for smallholder farmers in developing countries. Historical climate data of Nepal, which include 116 yr since 1901, has shown an increasing trend for average temperature by 0.016 °C yr–1 whereas precipitation has shown a decreasing trend by 0.137 mm yr–1. Such weather trends could enhance glacier melt associated flooding, and delayed monsoon rainfalls negatively impacting the agricultural production. The Nepalese government is promoting conservation agriculture (CA) through development of low‐cost technologies that can be used effectively in difficult terrains. Such techniques include crop diversification, crop rotation, cover crops, and minimum tillage; all of which can reduce soil degradation. In addition, increasing crop residue retention can result in greater C sequestration and crop yield and reductions in greenhouse gas emissions. However, there is still lack of consensus on the merits of CA in the context of smallholder farming systems in Nepal. This paper reviews existing literature and provides an overview of farming practices in Nepal, highlights near‐term challenges associated with climate change and food security, and discusses the role of CA as a climate‐smart strategy to minimize soil degradation and improve food security.

Twelve years of soil preservation and rehabilitation on the Rio do Peixe watershed: promoting conservation agriculture

AbstractThis study aimed to evaluate the works undertaken on the Rio do Peixe watershed by the Coordination of Agricultural Defense (CDA) over 12 years, where conservationist agriculture practices have been used since 2007 to promote the recovery of degraded areas, the reduction of erosion and the improvement of water quality. In addition, we evaluated the performance of innovative diagnostic strategies used to identify erosion spots in the river basin. The effective supervision of large farmland areas is a common problem that requires the development of cost‐effective tools while keeping a close interaction with stakeholders. From 2007 to 2017, 176 properties (23,103 ha) were inspected and notified to fulfill the soil conservation laws, using the Conventional CDA methodology (i.e., field assessment by an agronomist). In the Marília sector, the Innovative CDA Methodology (with remote sensing) was used, enabling the audit of 52 properties covering 27,775 ha in 2 years. Each landowner was requested to submit technical projects using conservationist practices to be implemented under CDA guidelines. Methods included vegetation cover and crop rotation (control of laminar erosion) and implementation of agricultural terraces, bypass channels, and containment basins (management of gullies erosion). The activities carried out promoted a shift from conventional agriculture, which was impacting soil fertility and water quality, towards conservation agriculture. Degraded pastures were converted into annual cropping areas using No‐Tillage (zero tillage) farming techniques. Other pastures were recovered, through Integrated Crop‐Livestock Systems, increasing its stocking rate. The undertaken activities were labor‐intensive but beneficial for farmers and for the quality of waterbodies.

Removing Barriers and Creating Opportunities for Climate-Resilient Agriculture by Optimizing Federal Crop Insurance

Climate change is devastating global agricultural and economic systems. Nature-based solutions that promote conservation agriculture can address these challenges while mitigating climate change. We propose a pilot crop insurance and research program in the U.S. Northern Plains to promote practices that enhance farm soil health, income, and resilience while mitigating climate change. Such a program could inform nationwide adoption of such practices. We specifically propose eliminating requirements for fallow to insure wheat, funding development of regionally-adapted leguminous crops, and incentivizing whole farm insurance over single-crop yield-focused offerings to promote economic growth and climate-resilient practices. The policies extend across a spectrum of cost, legislative burden, political capital, and time-scales for implementation and impact, offering a balanced and gradual transition to conservation agriculture. Adopted jointly, these recommendations improve farm resilience to climate change by promoting soil health and crop diversification while reducing emissions.

Principles, Positives and Limitations of Conservation Agriculture: A Review

Lessons learnt from past experiences push for an alternate way of crop production. One such is Conservation agriculture (CA), which can be seen as a new way forward for conserving resources and enhancing productivity to achieve goals of sustainable agriculture. In recent past, progressive and significant efforts are made to develop, refine and disseminate conservation-based agricultural technologies across globe. Tremendous efforts on zero-till practices and surface management with crop residues for crop production were reviewed. This work was done at Department of Agronomy, Agricultural College and Research Institute, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Madurai -625 104, Tamil Nadu, India. A systematic cum integrative review of research work done in different parts of World, particularly in India was comprehended. Literature search was done during 2020. About 200 review and research papers were screened from various databases like TNAU e-library, ARCC journals, Google Scholar, Research gate and Scopus and 84 papers were used. This review article comprehensively documents major principles of CA along with extent and spread of CA across the globe. It also highlights CA in Indian perspective. Various merits and demerits were also discussed with literature support. This review paper discusses rising concerns of conventional agriculture systems with regard to its adoption, positives and negatives of conservation agriculture in promoting conservation agriculture in tropics.

Dynamics of Conservation Agriculture: a societal perspective

In an era of unstable ecology and fragile environment, a sustainable cultivation approach is gaining gradual importance in place of conventional input-intensive agricultural production systems along with non-judicious use of agrochemicals and irrigated water. Many international development projects have started to promote Conservation Agriculture globally, in this perspective. Conservation Agriculture (CA) is mainly comprised of three interlinked principles, viz. soil disturbance to the null or minimal, permanent cover on soil using mulch or crop residues, and crop diversification. Day by day CA is getting more and more attention of farming community throughout the world. In 2015–2016 season conservation agriculture was adopted on about 180 MHA of cropland, about 12.5% of the total global cropland, i.e. 69% more than 2008–2009 in the world. The adoption behaviour of farmers has been reviewed in this literature. Key influencers on smallholdings, gender dimension and knowledge network, institutional and policy context are also theoretically presented in relation to CA system. Harmonizing this requires an understanding of the complex network of adopter-CA technology-adoption behaviour and global or national level policy formulation as well as strategic farm-level management.

Improving farmers’ livelihoods through conservation agriculture: options for change promotion in Laikipia, Kenya

ABSTRACT Across Sub-Saharan Africa, agricultural practices for sustainable intensification need to be up-scaled from project interventions to institutional mainstreaming. However, several constraints, including a general lack of resources and knowledge, limited institutional support and challenging market conditions hamper this process. The objective of this study was to develop region-specific options to promote Conservation Agriculture (CA) in the Laikipia region, Kenya. We applied the Transformative Learning Approach (TLA) to stimulate and nurture a joint learning process around CA, to diagnose hindering and supporting factors for up-scaling of CA and to develop options for change promotion. Through a series of field visits, we collected and analyzed data using elements of the TLA approach: i.e. agro-ecosystem health check, stakeholder mapping, participatory videos and the Qualitative Assessment tool for CA adoption (QAToCA). Our findings reveal that up-scaling of CA is hindered by inefficient agricultural market structures, limited access to CA specific biological (residue, seeds), and technical inputs (e.g. machinery), a lack of finances, and absence of knowledge. We recommend four options for further CA promotion in the region: localised expertise (e.g. crop-livestock integration), unbiased facilitation (e.g. careful choice of multipliers), subsidized inputs (e.g. micro-credits) and robust institutional system support (e.g. stable agricultural policies).

Faith in international agricultural development: Conservation Agriculture in sub-Saharan Africa

The role of faith and religion in international development cooperation is hotly debated today. The legitimacy of this role remains, however, often confided to instrumental reasons. Yet, thinking about faith and religion only in instrumental terms leaves unquestioned the possibility of a religious background of development cooperation as a practice itself and the potential role of faith through individual practitioners that operate within secular NGOs, and research and policy institutes. The aim of the present paper is therefore to consider the structural role of faith and worldview in relation to agricultural development, moving beyond the discourse of instrumentality. We do this by focusing on Giller and Andersson’s political agronomy analysis of the promotion of Conservation Agriculture in Zimbabwe by the faith-based organisation ‘Foundations for Farming’. We argue that a distinction should be made between religion as a practice of believers and faith functioning as a worldview in every practice. In addition, we argue that it is helpful to distinguish between different kinds of practices involved in agricultural development in sub-Saharan Africa, namely farming practice, agronomic scientific practice, and faith practice. The value of this philosophical analysis is that it challenges a dichotomous model of ‘science-based versus faith-based’ approaches to agricultural development. Furthermore, specific kinds of normativity are identified as always already functioning inside practices, rather than practices being neutral spaces that are (subjectively) infused with normativity by applying external ethical standards.

Toward understanding conservation behavior in agriculture as a dynamic and mutually responsive process between individuals and the social system

Since the Green Revolution, farming has transitioned globally into high-yield crop varieties characterized by an intensive use of natural resources. While this has been successful in increasing productivity and lowering the cost of food (Evenson 2003), it has put pressure on ecosystem sustainability, ecological biodiversity, and the provision of ecosystem services (Garibaldi et al. 2017; Tilman et al. 2002). Clearly, this has not gone unnoticed by key actors like research institutes, extension organizations, and policy makers that work to support sustainable farming practices. As a result, examples abound of research and extension programs that aim to make farming sustainable by means of promoting conservation agriculture (CA), with the goals of safeguarding farmers' economic viability and restoring balance in demands made on valuable and limited resources. Such efforts have been met with variable degrees of success (Garibaldi et al. 2017; Tilman et al. 2002; Wezel et al. 2014) and have created a large body of literature dedicated to understanding what drives the adoption of CA practices and technologies (Brown et al. 2017; Chouinard et al. 2016; Kassie et al. 2013; Llewellyn et al. 2017; Mills et al. 2017; Pannell et al. 2006; Reimer et al. 2014). Although these studies converge in…

Why do smallholder farmers dis‐adopt conservation agriculture? Insights from Malawi

AbstractInternational donors and advisory bodies, governments, and nongovernmental organisations are actively promoting conservation agriculture (CA) to improve agricultural productivity and resilience to climate change impacts. However, many smallholder farmers continue to dis‐adopt (abandon) the technology. Reasons for dis‐adoption are not well known. This article examines farmers' lived experiences and perceptions of CA to understand why smallholder farmers dis‐adopt CA in Malawi. Improving understanding of dis‐adoption of this seemingly appropriate intervention is important to achieve sustained adoption and for ensuring long‐lasting impacts of agricultural development project interventions. A mixed methods approach was used, involving household questionnaire survey and focus group discussions with smallholder farmers. Findings reveal that although drivers of dis‐adoption are multidimensional and multilayered, they are rooted in shortfalls of CA promoters' implementation arrangements. Although CA proponents market CA as a time‐saving, labour‐saving, and yield‐improving technology, respondents report contrary experiences. Our findings show that farmers lack sufficient technical support and encounter technological, social, institutional, and economic challenges. These, coupled with unfulfilled expectations, undermine ownership of CA projects and lead to dis‐adoption. This highlights a need to (a) collaboratively design projects to better suit local needs and context with inclusive implementation arrangements; (b) emphasise climate resilience benefits of CA rather than economic benefits to manage farmers' expectations; (c) intensify multidisciplinary research that incorporates farmers' knowledge and experiences to develop suitable, flexible, and low‐input CA packages; and (d) provide regular hands‐on technical extension support to farmers.

Can conservation agriculture save tropical forests? The case of minimum tillage in Zambia

Minimum tillage (MT) is a key component in the promotion of conservation agriculture (CA). This paper asks whether MT reduces cropland expansion and thus deforestation. We develop a theoretical household model of land expansion, and test hypotheses by estimating a double hurdle model using household survey data from 368 smallholders in rural Zambia. About 19% of the farmers expanded cropland into forests, clearing an average of 0.14 ha over one year. Overall, we do not find significant associations between MT adoption and reduced deforestation among households in our sample, while higher labor availability and crop yield stimulate expansion. Yield augmenting agricultural technologies (such as MT) may not reduce expansion unless combined with other forest conservation measures.