Smallholder Farm Households Research Articles

Milk quality and hygiene: Knowledge, attitudes and practices of smallholder dairy farmers in central Kenya

Milk production is an important livelihood source for smallholder dairy farmers in low-to-middle-income countries (LMICs) such as Kenya. However, milk quality and safety are a challenge due to unhygienic handling and non-adherence to food safety standards. The objective of this study was to investigate the knowledge, attitudes and adoption of milk quality and food safety practices by smallholder farmers in Kenya. Ten Focus Group Discussions (FGDs), involving 71 smallholder farmers, were held to collect qualitative data on knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAPs) of smallholder dairy farmers in Laikipia, Nakuru, and Nyandarua counties. Additionally, data were collected through a cross-sectional administered to 652 smallholder farming households. The results of the study revealed low knowledge level and negative attitudes towards respecting antibiotics treatment withdrawal periods, milk quality standards and food safety regulations. Farmers stated they had received low levels of training on milk quality and safety standards. The majority of farmers adopted animal health measures and hygienic measures such as hand washing and udder cleaning. However, unhygienic milking environments, the use of plastic containers, the use of untreated water, and lack of teat dipping compromised milk quality and safety. Currently, milk production, handling and consumption could expose actors along the dairy value chain to health risks. The adoption of milk quality and food safety practices was influenced by farmers’ knowledge, socioeconomic characteristics, and choice of marketing channel. There is a need to improve farmers’ knowledge and attitudes and implement hygienic control, disease control and antibiotic residue control practices in the milk production process to meet required milk quality and food safety standards. Awareness campaigns and training programmes for smallholder dairy farmers could foster behavioural change and lead to an improvement in milk quality in Kenya. • Kenya dairy sector is constrained by farmers' low adherence to milk quality standards. • Lack of training hinders farmers' compliance with milk quality standards. • Poor farm-level hygiene compromises milk quality and safety. • Socioeconomic characteristics determine farmers' milk quality standards compliance.

Assessing Food Insecurity and Its Drivers among Smallholder Farming Households in Rural Oyo State, Nigeria: The HFIAS Approach

Hunger and food insecurity take center stage in most debates in Africa, and in recent times with serious concerns about Nigeria. This study assessed food insecurity among farming households in rural Oyo State, Nigeria, using cross-sectional datasets from 211 farming households through a multi-stage sampling procedure. The Household Food Insecurity Access Scale (HFIAS) module was employed in assessing food insecurity status of farming households, and the ordered logit model (OLM) was used to analyze factors influencing food insecurity among farming households. The results revealed that 12.8% of the farming households were food secure while 87.2% had varying levels of food insecurity. The OLM results indicated that age, household head’s years of schooling, gender, farm size, farm experience, non-farm income, food expenditure, and access to extension service significantly influenced food insecurity among farming households. Based on the findings, efforts should be geared towards promoting households’ education-related intervention programs in order to improve their nutrition-related knowledge that can enhance their food security status. Additionally, there should be provision of rural infrastructural facilities such as piped water, rural electrification, and healthcare service that promote healthy living and enhance households’ agricultural productivity.

Factors That Matter for Financial Inclusion: Evidence from Sub-Sharan Africa - The Zimbabwe Case

The study intended to investigate the factors that are important in influencing the financial inclusion of smallholder farming households in Sub-Saharan Africa with a specific focus on Zimbabwe. Motivated by the fact that there is an increase in the evidence of the importance of financial inclusion in fighting poverty and the fact that by merely having a bank account, financial inclusion cannot be guaranteed, the study went further to interrogate factors that influence smallholder farmers to have a transaction account, to borrow and to have insurance. Since the dependent variable of financial inclusion had more than two categories, with three unordered categories, transaction account, savings/credit account, and insurance, the multinomial logistic regression was used to estimate the determinants of financial inclusion from these three categories of the dependent variable. The multinomial logit model results, with insurance as the reference category, indicated that the size of the household, transaction costs, gender and agricultural extension service were the factors influencing the demand for a household to open a transaction account. On the other hand, off-farm income and age of the household were the only two factors significantly influencing households to borrow. Therefore, it is imperative for, the government of Zimbabwe to come up with more policies that encourage farmers to participate in the formal financial market as financial inclusion can help to fight poverty and the general developments of societies.
 
 Received: 28 April 2021 / Accepted: 31 August 2021 / Published: 5 November 2021

A Review of Climate-Smart Agriculture Technology Adoption by Farming Households in Sub-Saharan Africa

Climate change is a major constraint to the progress of Africa’s agriculture, food, and nutrition security; its effect is tied to geographical position and driven by the limited adaptive capacity of the agricultural households. The most vulnerable stakeholder group are the smallholder farming households with limited resources and knowledge of adaptation and mitigation techniques. Sub-Saharan Africa owns more than 60% of the world’s arable land with over 85% of the farmers being smallholder farmers, who are predisposed to various risks. This paper analyzes the adoption of climate-smart agriculture (CSA) processes and technologies by smallholder farming households in Sub-Saharan Africa. The study used mixed methods and an integrative literature review. This review indicated that the knowledge of CSA technologies by smallholder farmers in Africa is increasing and, thus, concerted efforts to continuously generate CSA technology would contribute to the desired positive outcome. To accelerate the pace of adoption and use of the technologies, the linkage of farmers, researchers, and extension practitioners is needed. Measures should also be put in place to ensure that CSA actions are implemented using bottom-up approaches.

Smallholder farmers’ climate change adaptation practices contribute to crop production efficiency in southern Ethiopia

AbstractClimate‐smart practices that have added benefits of improving agricultural productivity are an imperative for improving smallholder farming. However, there are few insights into how smallholder climate‐smart adaptation practices influence their technical (in)efficiency. Thus, the objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of smallholders’ climate‐smart adaptation practices on their crop production technical efficiency (TE) in the Lemo district of southern Ethiopia. We used focus group discussion, experts’ consultations and household survey to collect data from 600 smallholder crop producers across six rural kebeles. We computed smallholder farmers’ climate change adaptation indices based on experts' consultations and estimated the TE of the smallholder farmers using Stochastic Frontier Analysis. The smallholder farmers in the Lemo district have adopted climate‐smart agricultural practices such as terracing, crop diversification, improved soil amendment practices, varying planting or harvesting schedules, and crop rotation. The smallholder farm households practicing more adaptation strategies on a larger scale were more technically efficient than their counterparts with their TE averaging 11.31, 8.62, and 6.71% for major crops, wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), and teff [Eragrostis tef) (Zucc.) Trotter] production, respectively. Our model also revealed that adaptation to climate change has a positive and significant contribution to the technical efficiency of major crops, wheat, and teff production. Other key determinants of TE are farming experience, education, access to extension services, livestock holdings, and farm household income. Overall, our study suggests a policy shift to promote smallholder farmers adaptation to climate change using climate‐smart practices for an effective response to climate change impact while enhancing TE.

Learning from the grassroots: The case for the consideration of community-based agrarian and food security reforms in South Africa

Studies of projected agro-climatic variability on the productivity of small-holding farming livelihoods have been evaluated by indirect methods using simulation models on country or regional basis but few have been done at the community level. This study explores direct observation of the impact of soil and climate factors on crop and livestock livelihood systems in the three major agro-ecological zones of the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. It also analyzed their influence on small farmers’ choices of agrarian livelihood activities and the lessons learned for the suitability of agro-ecologically integrated agriculture as part of agrarian and food security reforms needed among small farming households in rural communities of South Africa. The impact of soil and rainfall on the crop and livestock livelihood choices of small-holders in the three major agro-ecological zones were explored. A cross-sectional survey was carried out among 223 small-holding farming households during the harvesting period of rain-fed farming season. Data on household livelihood activities were processed in monetary terms and subjected to gross margin and cost/benefit analysis. Geographic information system (GIS) mapping and statistical analysis were used to determine the association of small-holder maize revenue with agro-climatic variation. The results indicated that crop-based activities performed better in the Grassland zone, while livestock activities performed better in the Savanna zone. Small farms in the Karoo can only productively engage in livestock production. The results also showed that farming activities that combined more vegetable crops yielded greater profits than other field crops. Furthermore, the results indicate that the mixed cropping method remains one of the strategies for breaking-even and risk-bearing effort used by the small-holder farmers considering its cost-sharing benefits. Geographical information system (GIS) mapping further indicates that small-holders’ farming activity was not only affected by soil-climatic factors but by their management skills as well. We recommend agro-ecologically adapted policies and incentives for agriculture-based livelihood activities and intensified mixing of cropping systems among the small-holder farming households in the study area.

Impact of socio and demographic factors on multidimensional poverty profile of smallholder arable crop farmers – evidence from Nigeria

PurposeThis paper evaluates the impact of socio and demographic factors on the multidimensional poverty of smallholder arable crop farming households in Nigeria.Design/methodology/approachData were drawn from the second wave of the LSMS-Integrated Surveys on Agriculture General Household Survey Panel 2012/2013. The methods adopted in analysing the data were descriptive statistics, Alkire and Foster Method (AFM) and logit regression model.FindingsThe result shows that 84.34% of the households were headed by a male while 80.26% of the respondents were married with a mean household size of seven persons. The multidimensional poverty of arable crop farm households in Nigeria is 0.60, while the adjusted headcount ratio (MPI) is 0.27, with an average intensity of 0.45. We found that deprivation in the dimension of living standard accounted for 45.5% of the overall multidimensional poverty index (MPI). The result of the logistic regression indicates that household location, gender, household size and non-farm income are negatively correlated to poverty. The factors that increase poverty among households are the age of the household head and access to extension services.Originality/valueThe study presents an alternative means of assessing poverty among smallholder arable crop farming households in Nigeria. This study recommends that policymakers should focus more on improving the living standard of arable crop farming households to reduce poverty in rural areas. Similarly, concerted efforts should be made towards providing adequate health care and improved sanitation, supply of electricity and educational training that goes beyond primary education for farming household members.

Trends in Tobacco Production and Prices in Malawi.

Diversification away from tobacco production has been identified as a priority for Malawi, historically one of the world's most tobacco-reliant countries. This paper refers to a nationally representative data set to characterize broad trends in production since 2000 to understand whether Malawi is shifting away from tobacco and how production has changed over time. From 2004 to 2019, the share of Malawian crop farmers producing tobacco fell from 16% to 5%, and tobacco's share of the total value of crop production also declined sharply. Tobacco farms are generally growing larger (in size and scale of production) over time. However, land productivity remains low, with net returns of 93 000 MWK (128 USD) per hectare at the median. Farm-gate prices for tobacco have declined relative to the prices of maize or fertilizer, rendering tobacco a less lucrative avenue to generate the cash income needed to purchase these key items. In addition, the share of the export price received by farmers has also declined over time, with the median farm-gate price representing 32% of the export price in 2004 and 18% in 2019. In some respects, a transition away from tobacco has already occurred. Additional research is needed to understand why the farm-gate share of tobacco export prices has declined over this period and how the livelihoods of smallholder farm-households that exited tobacco production have been affected. To the extent that tobacco prices appear to be declining, there is a need to rigorously assess whether farmers have suitable crop alternatives (with established markets) and other livelihood options. Likely, investments are yet needed to foster strong alternatives to tobacco; such investments include research and development in on-farm technologies to raise the productivity of non-tobacco crops, as well as improvements in non-tobacco value chains to reduce transportation costs and promote private investment.

Smallholder Farmer’s Willingness To Pay For Improved Irrigation Water Supply In Mashonaland Central Irrigation Schemes, Zimbabwe

Irrigation agriculture is playing a major role in attaining food self-sufficiency and overall agricultural development in many developing countries and its development is key in promoting rural development. Due to limited capacity by governments support these schemes in most developing countries, it is important that farmers are willing to assist in recovering the cost of the management, maintenance, and operation of the irrigation system. This study therefore estimated the determinants of smallholder farmers’ willingness to pay for improved irrigation water using an Ordered Probit Model. It was done in Negomo and Chimhanda irrigation schemes in Zimbabwe. Primary data was collected from 120 randomly selected smallholder farm households through a structured questionnaire and focus group discussions. The study identified Household size, household income, farmer’s satisfaction with the current management practices and amount of the initial bid factors significantly influencing farmers’ WTP for improved irrigation water. The study recommended that management practices and scheme operations should be oriented. management team or committee in the irrigation scheme should come up payment plans to finance system upgrade and covering maintenance cost and need to develop water management policies like water optimum prices and promote water-efficient technologies. Keywords: Willingness to pay, Contingent valuation method, Irrigation water DOI: 10.7176/JESD/12-20-06 Publication date: October 31 st 2021

Integrating the soybean-maize-chicken value chains to attain nutritious diets in Tanzania

In Tanzania, diets are dominated by starchy staple crops such as maize, levels of malnutrition are high and largely attributed to lack of dietary diversity. We employed fuzzy cognitive mapping to understand the current soybean, maize and chicken value chains, to highlight stakeholder relationships and to identify entry points for value chain integration to support nutritious diets in Tanzania. The fuzzy cognitive maps were constructed based on information gathered during household interviews with 569 farming households, followed by a participatory workshop with 54 stakeholders involved in the three value chains. We found that the soybean, maize and chicken value chains were interconnected, particularly at the level of the smallholder farming systems and at processing facilities. Smallholder farming households were part of one or more value chains. Chicken feed is an important entry point for integrating the three value chains, as maize and soybean meal are the main sources of energy and protein for chicken. Unlike maize, the utilization of soybean in chicken feed is limited, mainly due to inadequate quality of processing of soybean grain into meal. As a result, the soybean grain produced by smallholders is mainly exported to neighbouring countries for further processing, and soybean meal is imported at relatively high prices. Enhancing local sourcing and adequate processing of soybean, coupled with strengthening the integration of smallholder farmers with other soybean, maize and chicken value chain actors offers an important opportunity to improve access to nutritious diets for local people. Our method revealed the importance of interlinkages that integrate the value chains into a network within domestic markets.

Determinants of Onion Output Market Participation Level Among Smallholder Farming Households: The Case of Fentale District, Oromia Regional State, Ethiopia

This study focuses on analysing the factors affecting the decision and the level of onion output market participation among smallholder onion producers at Fentale district . Samples of 180 onion producer households were selected through multi-stage random sampling from three kebeles of Fentale district. The study employed both quantitative and qualitative methods of data collection. Quantitative data collected from sample households were analysed by descriptive and double hurdle model while qualitative analysed by narration. The result from the 1 st phase of the double hurdle, probit regression, revealed that sex of household head, onion farming experience, total farm holding, farm allocated for onion production, credit access, access to extension and market information were statistically significant and influence households onion market participation decision. The finding from the 2 nd phase of the hurdle model, truncated regression, show the age of household head, sex of household head, farm allocated to onion, irrigation access, number of oxen owned and distance to the nearest market were variables influencing smallholder onion market participation level and statistically significant. Finally it is recommended that the Government organizations and other responsible bodies should ensure the equal distribution of irrigation water for both upper and lower streams, strengthen inputs supply chains, and strengthen producers’ cooperation. Keywords: Double hurdle, Fentale, Market Participation , Onion, Smallholders DOI: 10.7176/JMCR/82-01 Publication date: September 30 th 2021

Construction and Interpretation of Production and Market Metrics Used to Understand Relationships with Dietary Diversity of Rural Smallholder Farming Households

Indicators of agricultural production diversity and market access and/or participation have often been used to try to understand how agricultural production and markets influence dietary diversity of rural smallholder households. Based on a standardized search strategy, 37 studies investigating the association between an indicator of agricultural production diversity and any indicator of dietary diversity were reviewed. The characteristics of the indicators of agricultural production diversity, as well as indicators of market access and/or participation, were assessed. This review demonstrated the wide range of indicators; four types and 14 subtypes of indicators of agricultural production diversity were found in the 37 studies, and three types and 14 subtypes of indicators of market access and/or participation were found in 25 studies. While diversity of measurement ideas allows flexibility, it precludes comparability with other studies and might make it difficult to build a robust body of evidence of the impact of agriculture at farm household level on food security, diet, and nutrition.

Constraints of Adoption of Agricultural Extension Package Technologies on Sorghum Crop Production at Smallholder Farm Household Level: Evidence from West Hararghe Zone, Oromia, Ethiopia

An effective and efficient agricultural extension system can enhance the agricultural productivity and production of smallholders through the development of innovative, systematic, and farmer-owned agricultural extensions. This study identified major constraints of adoption of agricultural extension package technologies such as adoption of inorganic and organic fertilizers, improved seeds, row planting, and crop protection chemicals at smallholder household level on sorghum crop production. The study used cross-sectional survey data collected from 201 sample respondent household farmers. To analyze data, descriptive statistics, ranking indexes, graphs, and tables were used. The study identified the major constraints of agricultural extension package technologies. High price, problem of on-time provision, shortage and uneven distribution of rainfall, and problem of accessibility were the major constraints that hinder the use of inorganic fertilizer. Using sources of organic fertilizer for other purposes, insufficient availability, undeveloped infrastructure, and facilities and requirement of more labor were the major constraints to the use of organic fertilizer.

Factors Influencing Commercialization of Horticultural Crops Among Smallholder Farmers in Juba, South Sudan

This paper aims at analyzing socio-economic and institutional factors influencing the commercialization of horticultural crops among smallholder farm households in Juba, South Sudan. The study adopted a multi-stage sampling technique to select a sample of 151 respondents. The survey was conducted using semi-structured questionnaires to collect primary data. The data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics and a Tobit regression model by STATA analytical software. The results from descriptive statistics indicated that 77.48% of the farmers are female, 36.65% have access to land, 37.09% have access to education at the primary level, 96.69% have no access to market information, 74.17% do not have group membership and only 54.97% have access to irrigation facilities. The findings further revealed that the mean household commercialization index (HCI) was 74.81% and the specific HCI for the selected vegetable crops; tomato, okra and cowpeas were 74.92%, 72.96%, and 74.84% respectively. The results from the Tobit regression model revealed that commercialization of horticultural crops is influenced by the age of the farmer, farming experience, type of land acquisition, the quantity of crop produced, group membership, total variable costs, total farm revenue, and access to irrigation facilities. The finding revealed that the age of a farmer, types of crop produced, type of land acquisition, and group membership are negatively significant whereas, farming experience, total variable costs, total farm revenue, and access to irrigation facilities are positively significant. The study suggests that further evaluation of the factors influencing the commercialization of indigenous and exotic vegetables would be required in rural and peri-urban settings of South Sudan. This study provides an insight for policymakers to formulate appropriate policies that can promote domestic production and accelerate the transition of smallholder farmers from subsistence to the market-oriented production system. Keywords: Commercialization, Horticultural crops, Peri-urban areas, smallholder, Tobit regression model DOI: 10.7176/JESD/12-14-05 Publication date: July 31 st 2021

Valuation of Cropland Ecosystem Products of Smallholder Farm Households in Hare River Catchment, Southern Ethiopia

The crop production value of nature has to be boldly appreciated in Ethiopia where agriculture is the main livelihood source of most people. However, studies aimed at estimating cropland services were rare in Ethiopia and Hare Catchment. Thus, the objective of this study was to estimate the crop production value of the nature of smallholder farmers of Hare Catchment, Southern Ethiopia. The study applied a quantitative approach and survey design. Data was collected using a questionnaire of 465 households (identified via systematic random sampling) and interviews. Mean, t-test, analysis of variance, and linear regression were used for data analyses. The average net crop production value of nature in the lower, middle and the upper catchment of Hare was US$ 907.3, 455.1, and US$ 512.3 per household/year, respectively. The average production (20.4 quintals) and gross value (US$ 704.8) per/household/year of Hare catchment revealed significant variation among households based on the difference in gender, farm size, labor, and fertilizer used for farming at a 99% confidence level. 78.2% of the crop production variation among farmers was significantly predicted by farm size, labor, seedling, fertilizer, and seed used for farming. The average annual net crop harvest value (US$ 643) of nature was 91.2% of the average revenue (US$ 704.8) from cropland products of Hare. While farm size was the strongest predictor of crop production variation in the lower Hare, labor was the strongest predictor of its variation in the middle and the upper catchment. Thus, government bodies and farmers should take integrated actions to tackle the yield bottle-necks of croplands in Hare Catchment, Southern Ethiopia.

The adoption impact of wheat-chickpea double cropping on yield and farm income of smallholder farmers in Central Highlands of Ethiopia: the case of Becho district

This paper examines impacts of adoption of wheat chickpea double cropping on yield and farm income of smallholder rural farmers in Becho district, South West Shewa Zone, Oromia Region, Ethiopia. The study used cross-sectional data collected from 203 smallholder farm households selected randomly through two-stage stratified random sampling technique. Propensity score matching was employed to analyze the impacts of adoption on yield and farm income. The result showed that adoption of wheat-chickpea double cropping has significant impact on yield and farm income of the group of adopter households compared to the group of non-adopters. With regard to yield, adopters harvested average wheat yield of 2120 kg/ha, while the non-adopters harvested average wheat yield of 1420 kg/ha. In addition, the treated households earned average annual farm income of about 709.125 Euro per year from sale of both wheat and chickpea as adopters; while the non-adopters earned average farm income of 129 Euro from sale of wheat. These results imply that scaling out of wheat-chickpea double cropping contributes to food security and rural livelihood improvement through yield and farm income increment. Hence, encouraging farmers towards adoption of wheat-chickpea double cropping is essential for improving livelihoods of rural households by properly addressing factors such as access to improved seeds, training on double cropping, involvement in non-farm income activities, access to broad bed maker (BBM), ownership of tropical livestock unit (TLU) and access to fertilizer.

Smallholder farmers’ perceptions of agricultural extension in adoption of new technologies in Kakamega County, Kenya

This exploratory study assesses factors that harness agricultural technology adoption among smallholder farmers in Kakamega County, Kenya by evaluating the key variables that influence sustainable adoption of agricultural innovations in the area. A survey was randomly administered in June and July 2018 among smallholder farming households in seven sub-counties (N=78) of Kakamega County. A logistic regression model, capturing factors presumed to influence the adoption of agricultural innovations, was estimated. Results suggest that even in smallholder farms, the farm size is important in adoption of innovations. Results also indicate limited or no farmer interaction (55%) with extension services. Farmers reported application of fertilizer and use of push-pull technology as less important in maintaining soil health. The regression model findings suggest that variables typically presumed to influence adoption in the literature are insignificant in this case study. The statistical significance of the farm size variable implies that agricultural extension messages can be tailored to a variety of farmer audiences for suitable adoption based on farm size. The diffusion of innovation theory remains a valid and relevant framework in studying adoption. This study reiterates the critical role that farmers or their environment play in the adoption process.

LEAN MANUFACTURING PRACTICES AND SUPPLY CHAIN PERFORMANCE OF SUGAR MANUFACTURING FIRMS IN WESTERN KENYA

Introduction: Western Kenya is the largest producer of sugar in Kenya, supporting about 170,000 smallholder farming households and contributing about 80 percent of the total sugar produced in Kenya. This contribution is however threatened given that the sugar firms in that region are producing sub optimally with obsolete technology. Comparing to related sector, other firms in Kenya such as the tea manufacturing firms have implemented energy efficiency practices so as to manage energy wastage and reduce production costs. Were they to employ effective production methods, they could increase their production significantly. While that is the case, scholars have suggested that adoption of lean manufacturing practices is a panacea to quality addition and waste minimization. Perhaps what these firms need are lean practices.
 Purpose: This study interrogated the extent to which the firms have adopted lean manufacturing practices, just-in-time and total quality control and if they have, its effect on supply chain performance.
 Methodology: The study targeted and conducted a census on the 11 sugar manufacturing firms in the Western Kenya belt where the procurement managers, line managers, finance managers, production managers, production engineers, quality assurance officers and operations managers of each of the 11 firms (total 87) were targeted. The study employed a descriptive research design to collect quantitative data. Quantitative primary data was collected through questionnaires and analyzed using statistical package for social sciences.
 Findings: The findings of the study indicated that the just in time productionand total quality control are positively and significantly associated with supply chain performance of the sugar manufacturing firms.
 Unique Contribution to Practice and Policy: The study recommended adoption of just in time production practices such as availing labor on demand in order to manage labor costs, availing resources on demand in order to manage wastage, production on demand in order to manage inventory costs, ordering raw materials from the suppliers only when there is demand for production from customers, having a simplified production design to ensure timely production and having multiple skilled workers to ensure faster production. In addition, in order for the sugar manufacturing firms to increase supply chain performance, there is need to adopt total quality control practices such as having manageable defect prevention costs related to quality planning, putting in place manageable defect prevention costs related to investment in quality related information systems, having manageable appraisal costs related to test and inspection of purchased materials, having manageable appraisal costs related to quality audits, having controllable internal failure costs related to reworks and having manageable internal failure costs related to scrap.

Does participatory farmer-to-farmer training improve the adoption of sustainable land management practices?

Human-induced land degradation currently threatens the livelihoods of over 3 billion people globally. While Sustainable Land Management (SLM) has emerged as a widely accepted approach for addressing land degradation in agroecosystems, the use of SLM practices remains low among smallholder farmers. Empirical research points to the potentially beneficial role of participatory farmer-to-farmer (F2F) training and knowledge sharing in improving SLM in resource-poor contexts. Drawing theoretical insights from social learning and using cross-sectional data from an agroecology intervention with smallholder farming households in Malawi (n = 609 farming households, comprising 463 households that received F2F training in agroecology and 146 households that did not receive F2F training), we examine the association between participatory agroecology training and the adoption of SLM practices. Findings from tobit regression analysis show that F2F training was positively associated with the use of SLM practices (β = 0.04 p < 0.05) two years following the intervention after accounting for demographic, agricultural and socioeconomic factors. These findings contribute to a growing body of literature that demonstrates the potential of participatory F2F training to improve the uptake and maintenance of SLM technologies. In the context of resource constraints and the associated low agricultural extension in sub-Saharan Africa, participatory F2F training may offer a cost-effective way to reach a wide range of smallholder farmers to promote the use of SLM practices.

Smallholder farmers’ perceptions of agricultural extension in adoption of new technologies in Kakamega County, Kenya

This exploratory study assesses factors that harness agricultural technology adoption among smallholder farmers in Kakamega County, Kenya by evaluating the key variables that influence sustainable adoption of agricultural innovations in the area. A survey was randomly administered in June and July 2018 among smallholder farming households in seven sub-counties (N=78) of Kakamega County. A logistic regression model, capturing factors presumed to influence the adoption of agricultural innovations, was estimated. Results suggest that even in smallholder farms, the farm size is important in adoption of innovations. Results also indicate limited or no farmer interaction (55%) with extension services. Farmers reported application of fertilizer and use of push-pull technology as less important in maintaining soil health. The regression model findings suggest that variables typically presumed to influence adoption in the literature are insignificant in this case study. The statistical significance of the farm size variable implies that agricultural extension messages can be tailored to a variety of farmer audiences for suitable adoption based on farm size. The diffusion of innovation theory remains a valid and relevant framework in studying adoption. This study reiterates the critical role that farmers or their environment play in the adoption process.