Smallholder Farmers In Ethiopia Research Articles

Determinants of Smallholder Farmers’ Decisions to Use Multiple Climate-Smart Agricultural Technologies in North Wello Zone, Northern Ethiopia

Climate change presents significant challenges to agriculture in developing nations, affecting farmers’ livelihoods and food security. In Ethiopia, agriculture is crucial to the economy and the well-being of millions. This study focuses on analyzing the determinants that affect smallholder farmers’ adoption of climate-smart agriculture (CSA) technologies in the North Wello administrative zone, northern Ethiopia. Through multivariate and ordered probit econometric models, data from 411 rural household heads were analyzed. Results reveal the synergy among climate-smart agricultural practices in rainfed farming systems, essential for crafting a comprehensive CSA package within an agroecological framework. The multivariate probit estimation results show that education, membership in local organizations, farm size, tropical livestock unit (TLU), irrigated land ownership, plot number, steep slope, farmland distance to home, and access to a local media source are positive determinants for the decision to use the type and several climate-smart agricultural practices. Lack of credit, large family size, distance from extension services, and proximity to the nearest market were all associated with lower adoption of all CSA technologies. The findings suggest that blanket recommendations for climate-smart agricultural technologies for smallholder farmers can be avoided. The complementarities that exist between CSA technologies may require further investigation into how such complementarities have benefits in terms of improving land productivity and food security and reducing climate-related risks for smallholder farmers in Ethiopia and other contexts. Moreover, by emphasizing an agroecological framework, the study promotes environmentally sustainable and socially equitable agricultural practices that are economically viable, contributing to broader environmental sustainability and development goals.

Impact of climate-smart agricultural practices on smallholder farmers' resilience in Ethiopia

Climate change poses challenges to smallholder farmers in sub-Saharan Africa, including Ethiopia. To address this, adopting Climate-Smart Agricultural Practices (CSAPs) is crucial for building resilient communities. However, limited evidence exists on the impact of CSAPs on farmers' resilience. Therefore, this study aimed to examine the impact of Climate-Smart Agricultural Practices (CSAPs) on the resilience of smallholder farmers and identify the factors determining their resilience. The study collected both quantitative and qualitative data. Quantitative data was obtained from 646 survey households using household surveys, while qualitative data was gathered through focus group discussions and key informant interviews. Findings reveal that there is an agroecological difference in resilience status and factors like the education level of the household head, livestock size, and agricultural extension worker visits positively influence the resilience of CSAP-adopting smallholder farmers. Conversely crop share leases negatively impacts the adoption of climate-smart practices. Crop CSAPs adopters show significantly higher resilience gains (37.74% ATT) compared to non-adopters. Non-adopters could have experienced a substantial improvement (23.83% ATU) if they had adopted CSAPs. Positive and significant effects on resilience were also observed for livestock and soil management CSAPs adopters, with an improvement of 28.36% and 40.58%, in resilience capacity, respectively. Non-adopters of these CSAPs could have enhanced their resilience by 24.74% and 10.80%, respectively, if they had adopted these practices. This underscores the need to adopt more CSAPs and the importance of considering these factors in designing policies and promoting CSAPs to enhance the resilience of smallholder farmers in Ethiopia and similar contexts.

Lowland smallholders’ livelihood vulnerability to Climate change-induced hazards in Southern Ethiopia

Livelihood vulnerability to climate change-induced hazards is a serious problem for all agro-ecological contexts, notwithstanding being more severe for various groups of lowland smallholder farmers in Ethiopia. This study used cross-sectional survey data of 422 households from three sublowland agro-ecologies to assess differences in lowland smallholder farmers' vulnerability to climate change-induced hazards. Exposure, sensitivity, and adaptive capacity indications were built based on the literature review. The vulnerability index of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and the livelihood vulnerability index were calculated by giving different weights through principal component analysis (PCA) to the standardized indicators. The findings show that hot-to-warm sub-moist lowland agro-ecology is highly exposed, and sensitive and also has a lower ability for risk adaptation. This may be due to comparatively limited access to institutional infrastructure, usage of innovation, wealth status, diversification of sources of income, and social networks compared to other lowland agro-ecologies (p < 0.001). The policy implication of the study's findings is that the government and nongovernmental organizations must plan and implement sublowland agro ecology-specific adaptation strategies to reduce vulnerability to climate change-induced hazards by giving priority to the Hot-to-Warm Sub-Moist lowland Area.

Vegetables Production and Management Practices, Challenges, and Opportunities by Smallholder Farmers in Ethiopia

The production of vegetables is very important to Ethiopia's economy and various types of vegetables can grow in Ethiopia. However, despite the existing potentials, smallholder vegetable farms are based on low input–low output production system in the country. The production is run by smallholder farmers and is located on a relatively small part of land. In the same way, there is inadequate knowledge on improved vegetables production practices, challenges and opportunities by smallholder farmers in the country and public research on vegetable crops was negligible. To this end, this review was aimed to assess practices of vegetable production and management, challenges of vegetable production and management and opportunity of vegetable production by small holder farming household. The review found that, vegetable production practices and management are not the primary activity for the majority of smallholder farming households in the country; rather, they are seen as a supplement to the production of major crops. It was mainly based on traditional farming system. Further the review found out that, lack of access to credit, limited supply of improved seed, marketing and market information, appropriate management techniques, appropriate disease and insect pest control measures, outbreak of new disease and pest are among the main challenges of vegetable production in the country. This is mainly because of the limited resource allocation to research and development including the extension services. Finally, the review recommends that, in promoting vegetable producer households, diversified and intensified agricultural farming, and problems related to extension service and research, credit service, disease and pest control, market and marketing information, and provision of modern agricultural inputs should be addressed by concerned bodies.

Vegetables Production and Management Practices, Challenges, and Opportunities by Smallholder Farmers in Ethiopia

The production of vegetables is very important to Ethiopia's economy and various types of vegetables can grow in Ethiopia. However, despite the existing potentials, smallholder vegetable farms are based on low input–low output production system in the country. The production is run by smallholder farmers and is located on a relatively small part of land. In the same way, there is inadequate knowledge on improved vegetables production practices, challenges and opportunities by smallholder farmers in the country and public research on vegetable crops was negligible. To this end, this review was aimed to assess practices of vegetable production and management, challenges of vegetable production and management and opportunity of vegetable production by small holder farming household. The review found that, vegetable production practices and management are not the primary activity for the majority of smallholder farming households in the country; rather, they are seen as a supplement to the production of major crops. It was mainly based on traditional farming system. Further the review found out that, lack of access to credit, limited supply of improved seed, marketing and market information, appropriate management techniques, appropriate disease and insect pest control measures, outbreak of new disease and pest are among the main challenges of vegetable production in the country. This is mainly because of the limited resource allocation to research and development including the extension services. Finally, the review recommends that, in promoting vegetable producer households, diversified and intensified agricultural farming, and problems related to extension service and research, credit service, disease and pest control, market and marketing information, and provision of modern agricultural inputs should be addressed by concerned bodies.

Vegetables Production and Management Practices, Challenges, and Opportunities by Smallholder Farmers in Ethiopia

The production of vegetables is very important to Ethiopia's economy and various types of vegetables can grow in Ethiopia. However, despite the existing potentials, smallholder vegetable farms are based on low input–low output production system in the country. The production is run by smallholder farmers and is located on a relatively small part of land. In the same way, there is inadequate knowledge on improved vegetables production practices, challenges and opportunities by smallholder farmers in the country and public research on vegetable crops was negligible. To this end, this review was aimed to assess practices of vegetable production and management, challenges of vegetable production and management and opportunity of vegetable production by small holder farming household. The review found that, vegetable production practices and management are not the primary activity for the majority of smallholder farming households in the country; rather, they are seen as a supplement to the production of major crops. It was mainly based on traditional farming system. Further the review found out that, lack of access to credit, limited supply of improved seed, marketing and market information, appropriate management techniques, appropriate disease and insect pest control measures, outbreak of new disease and pest are among the main challenges of vegetable production in the country. This is mainly because of the limited resource allocation to research and development including the extension services. Finally, the review recommends that, in promoting vegetable producer households, diversified and intensified agricultural farming, and problems related to extension service and research, credit service, disease and pest control, market and marketing information, and provision of modern agricultural inputs should be addressed by concerned bodies.

Productivity and efficiency heterogeneity among maize smallholder farmers in Ethiopia

Productivity and efficiency heterogeneity among maize smallholder farmers in Ethiopia

Effects of Bio-rational Insecticides on Diamondback Moth (Plutella xylostella L.) and Cabbage Aphid (Brevicoryne brassicae L.) on Cabbage

Background: Cabbage is a subsistence crop for smallholder farmers in Ethiopia. Diamondback moths and cabbage aphids are among the devastating insects that cause yield losses of 90% and 30%. Objective: The aim was to test the efficacy of the bio-rational insecticides against diamondback moth and cabbage aphids, and their effect on cabbage yield and yield loss. Methods: A field experiment was conducted at the Gumsalasa micro dam with furrow irrigation during 2019/20 in Northern Ethiopia. Treatments were arranged in RCB design and replicated thrice. The experiment included five bio-rational insecticides; (R. obtusifolius), (P. dodecandra), (N. glauca), (T. minuta), (A. indica), Karate 5% EC (standard test), and control. Results: Phytolacca dodecandra aqueous leaf extract showed inspiring results, reducing diamondback moth larvae to 0.13 and aphid colonies to 0.16, 48 hours after the 4th spraying, leading to a higher (40.28 t ha-1) fresh cabbage yield followed by A.indica, which had reduced the invasion of diamondback moth and aphid colonies to 0.20 and 0.40 and the yield was recorded as 27.69 t ha-1 compared with 2.46 and 5.53 diamondback moth and aphid colonies, and 23.86 t ha-1 cabbage yield in the control group. Similarly, aqueous extracts of P. dodecandra showed a commendable yield (68.82%) increment over the control, and an estimated yield loss of 40.76% was recorded from the control plots due to the tested insect pests. Conclusion: This study concludes that foliar extracts of P. dodecandra can be used as an alternative management option to replace synthetic insecticides and thereby maintain food security.

The Determinants of Beef Cattle Market Participation on Beef Cattle Producers’ Welfare: A Case Study of West Shewa Zone, Oromia Region, Ethiopia

Due to their ability to produce meat, milk, leather, glue, gelatin, and other products that people may utilize, beef cattle are domesticated. Beef cattle production and marketing play a vital role in the growth and development of the globe and the African economy. Ethiopia has great potential for livestock population in Africa and in the world but earns less from beef cattle production and marketing. Ethiopian farmers are reluctant to beef cattle market participation. Their reluctant to participate in beef cattle marketing causes lack of beef cattle products in the market and causes high prices for beef cattle and its products. The research objective was to analyze the impact of beef cattle market participation on the welfare of beef cattle smallholder farmers in Ethiopia. The primary data come from 400 randomly selected beef cattle farmers involved in beef cattle production and marketing and actors. Descriptive statistics and inferential statistics propensity score matching (PSM) model have used to analyze the collected data. The data analysis result indicated that smallholder beef cattle farmers participating in beef cattle marketing and farmers’ annual per capita consumption expenditure (economic welfare) increased by 84% more than the nonbeef cattle market participants. We assume this is a first result and investigation in the study area. The research study is important for farmers, policymakers, researchers, and the academia in general. Providing education and training, promoting the participation of more women in beef cattle marketing, and promoting and encouraging more full-time beef cattle farmers are suggested recommendations.

Gendered livelihood impacts and responses to an invasive, transboundary weed in a rural Ethiopian community

Gender as unequal power relations intersects with global environmental change threatening agriculture-based livelihoods, including land degradation, increasing climate variability, and invasive alien plants. Commonly overlooked, invasive alien plants may have gendered impacts on everyday life that disproportionately affect the less powerful. Drawing on experiences of smallholder farmers in Ethiopia’s Oromia region with an invasive, transboundary weed, Parthenium hysterophorus L., this paper illustrates how environmental change interacts with pre-existing vulnerabilities to shape individual and household-level impacts and responses. We applied a feminist perspective in livelihoods and environmental change research and praxis to explore the intersection of gendered livelihoods and parthenium management in spaces of everyday life. While invasive plants, including parthenium, may be easily perceptible in the field, understanding impacts on livelihoods requires consideration of women’s and men’s roles and responsibilities within the broader household compound as well as intra-household decision-making. Parthenium can be harmful to environmental, animal, and human health, but unduly impacts women’s labor, spaces, and assets, including cows whose milk may be tainted by grazing in parthenium-infested fields. We demonstrate the importance of considering women’s social networks and so-called reproductive space and labor to understand gendered and place-based inequities of climate change. This study reveals intimate connections between environmental stressors and gendered livelihoods. Our findings demonstrate how inequalities can be reinforced by new forms of vulnerability, with response options socially differentiated. We argue that a feminist livelihood lens helps bridge the global scale of environmental change with local scales of gendered livelihood adaptation embedded within broader socio-environmental change.

Unlocking food security and livelihoods: the transformative power of agroecology among vulnerable smallholder farmers in Kembata Tembaro, Ethiopia

ABSTRACT This article explores the transformative potential of an agroecological project in addressing challenges faced by vulnerable smallholder farmers in Kembata Tembaro, Ethiopia. Four key indicators of farmers’ food security – enset stock, land sharing, agricultural biodiversity, and fodder production – were assessed before and after the project implementation. The findings reveal that the agroecological transition initiated by the project positively impacted all indicators, with longer-term beneficiaries experiencing more significant improvements. The transition resulted in breaking the vicious circle of food insecurity and in establishing a virtuous circle of improved livelihoods and resilience through enhanced productivity, reintroduction of livestock, and the production and marketing of fodder into local markets. The study also highlights the crucial role of traditional indigenous organizations, in identifying context-specific needs and in creating and sharing knowledge for successful agroecological transitions. Millions of smallholder farmers in Ethiopia are trapped in a vicious circle of food insecurity and vulnerability due to soil degradation, high population density, and depletion of natural resources. This research serves as a compelling call to prioritize and invest in agroecology as a key solution to sustainably intensify smallholder agriculture, conserve natural resources, protect biodiversity, and improve the livelihoods of vulnerable farmers in similar contexts.

Adoption and intensity use of malt barley technology package by smallholder farmers in Ethiopia: A double hurdle model approach

Ethiopia has an enormous production potential for malted barley due to its ideal agroecology, notably in the central and Bale highlands. However, local production cannot meet the demand for both new and old malt and brewing plants. Millions of dollars have been invested to import malt at the national level. The objective of this study was to investigate the factors that influence smallholder farmers' adoption and level of use of the malt barley technology package. A multistage sampling procedure was employed to choose representative kebeles and households. The study relied on actual data collected from 201 randomly selected barley-producing households. Descriptive statistics and Double Hurdle economic models were used to analyze the data. The descriptive findings show that malt barley varieties and the malt barley technology package were adopted at rates of 0.3 and 0.9, respectively. The Double Hurdle model results reveal that factors such as the household head's age, the total area under cultivation, the availability of information on malt barley production, distance from the main road, participation in the field day program, and membership in the agricultural cooperative all had an effect on smallholder farmers' decisions to adopt and use the malt barley technology package. The recommendation made by this research was to boost farmers' knowledge of malt barley production through training and field trip programs. Organizing smallholder farmers in nearby agricultural cooperatives, as well as ensuring access to roads and public transit for easy access to agricultural inputs and output markets.

Review on Post-Harvest Grain Treatments (Filter Cake, Triplex Powders and Eucalyptus Tree Powder)

Grains are harvested seed and edible dry seeds from plants cereals. They are the basis of daily diets for many populations worldwide. In addition, they are fundamental in the regular foods of many people and used for the production of different popular food. Grain losses due to insect pests in sub-Saharan Africa especially in Ethiopia are very high. Therefore, to get those daily diets and reduce loss occurred by insects, treatment of grain is very important. The objective of this review is to review studies made by various researchers and reviewers on grain treatments (filter cakes, triplex and powder eucalyptus tree leaves). Application of chemical pesticides is important to protect stored grain from insect pests. However, most of smallholder farmers challenged with many problems related to unsafe handling and use of pesticides due to improper training in safe use of pesticides, and inadequate infrastructure to regulate safe use of pesticides. Filter cake and Triplex powders applied to different grains to determine effectiveness against the grains. Filter cake is products of aluminum sulfate and Triplex is products of soap factories. Defense of stored grain from insect pests using Filter cake, Triplex powders and eucalyptus leaves tree has been practiced in Ethiopia. Filter cake and Triplex have a higher atomic percentage of silicon and oxygen in the form of silicon dioxide. Generally, grain treatment is very important through filter cake and triplex as well as by using eucalyptus tree powder, due to they have properties of toxic against insects and no health problems on humans. Therefore, Filter cake Triplex and eucalyptus leave recommended for protecting and managing grain stored by smallholder farmers in Ethiopia to discourage farmers from using dangerous chemical insecticides.

Impact of Wheat Cluster Farming Practice on Smallholder’s Asset Building in Arsi Zone of Ethiopia

Agriculture is the main focus of Ethiopia's economic development. It accounts for about 32.7% of the country’s GDP (NBE, 2020). Wheat is one of the major cereal crops produced by smallholder farmers in Ethiopia. Wheat demand is rising quickly in Ethiopia despite efforts to improve wheat production. Recently, to curb this problem, the government of Ethiopia has set up a cluster farming system for high-potential crops like wheat as a means of improving productivity and maximizing the income of smallholder farmers. In light of the problems and the research gaps identified, this study seeks to address the impact of wheat cluster farming practices on stallholder’s asset building in the Arsi Zone of Ethiopia. Data was collected from 383 sample wheat-producing households. The data was analyzed using descriptive statistics and propensity score matching model. The propensity score matching model of the average treatment effect on the treated result revealed that wheat cluster farming participation had a significant impact on the smallholders’ asset building. It has been found that, on average, participation in wheat cluster farming has increased smallholders' asset building by ETB 8014.13 (148.69$) for wheat cluster participants as compared to non-participants. Hence it was concluded that cluster farming has improve wheat production which is the major source of income to build asset of the study areas smallholders. Therefore, stakeholders should develop strategies to promote and scale up cluster farming practices. As a result, smallholder farmers will use the extra wheat produced by cluster farming to accumulate more assets and thus raise their standard of living.

Biomass Yield, Quality, and Soil Nutrients of Pasture Influenced by Farmyard Manure and Enrichment Planting

Grazing land remains the major feed source for livestock for smallholder farmers in Ethiopia; however, its productivity is low and it is prone to degradation. A field experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of farmyard manure (FYM) and enrichment planting with improved forages on biomass yield, nutritional value, and soil chemical properties in dryland areas of northwestern Ethiopia. The experiment was carried out using a randomized complete block design with three replications for 2 yr. Natural pasture plots were seeded and treated with Napier grass (Pennisetum purpureum) or desho grass (Pennisetum pedicellatum), Napier or desho + FYM, Napier or desho + Desmodium, and Napier or desho + FYM + Desmodium; untreated plots were used as controls. In the yr 2019, after treatment application the overall herbaceous species identified in the experimental plots were grasses (64%), legumes (22%), and forbs (14%). In all treatment groups, legumes dominate in the first yr while grasses dominate in the second yr. Within treatment groups, dry matter yield (DMY) increment was recorded from the first yr to the second yr, by values ranging from 2.9% to 23.0%. The mean DMY in the desho + FYM + Desmodium uncinatum plots (8.4 t ha−1) was higher (P < 0.001) than controls (4.4 t ha−1). Natural pasture treated with Napier or desho in conjunction with either Desmodium or FYM and their combinations had a higher crude protein content (P < 0.001) than natural pasture alone despite the fact that in vitro organic matter digestibility was higher in desho grass when combined with desmodium or FYM treatments. Plots treated with Napier + FYM, Napier + Desmodium, and desho + Desmodium + FYM showed organic carbon levels that were significantly (P < 0.001) higher than the controls. Overall, desho + FYM + Desmodium produced the greatest improvement in grazing land productivity by maintaining soil fertility.

Effective Knowledge Transmission and Learning in Agriculture: Evidence from a Randomised Training Experiment in Ethiopia

In this article, we discuss a study to identify an effective agricultural knowledge transfer channel for smallholder farmers in Ethiopia, using a randomised training experiment together with focus group discussions, key informant interviews and a survey. We also examine the factors that determine learning among smallholder farmers. Our results revealed that involving extension agents and model farmers leads to above-average knowledge transfer. However, learning from extension agents is significantly more effective than learning from model farmers. Additionally, we found that trust, effort, and locus of control are important determinants of learning. On the other hand, we found no evidence that farmers exert more effort when they are trained by extension agents, hence this rules out effort as a mechanism for higher learning from the extension agents. Based on these results, we conclude that, on average, the extension agent system is more effective at conveying agricultural knowledge than model farmers are and that policy-makers can use the two channels as complements rather than substitutes.

Review on Homegarden Agroforestry and Its Contribution in Ethiopia

Agroforestry is an ancient practice and also the farmers are too much familiarized with it in Ethiopia. It contributes incredible benefits via socio-economic and environment. The main idea of this paper is to review Homegarden agroforestry practice and its contribution on woody species biodiversity conservation and improving the livelihoods of smallholder farmers in Ethiopia. The literature concludes that the high species diversity, multi-strata structures and complexity of structure are found in homegarden agroforestry. The presence diverse woody species of homegardens that serve different to fulfill a diversity of social, economic, cultural need, while providing a number of ecosystem services / environmental services (reduce soil erosion, increase soil moisture and fertility, coffee shade, and keep micro climate balance) and play a great role of biodiversity conservation. These could contribute to the sustainability of agricultural system. Homegarden agroforestry practice is highly recommended and acceptable than mono-cropping consequently it provides a socio-economic benefits like tree products (Timber, firewood, construction materials and fruit for food) and income. As result farmers were accounted it as a mainstay for maximizing their land productive capacity then improve the smallholder’s livelihoods. Therefore, the government should encourage Home garden agroforestry practice for improving the livelihoods of farmer and smoothly to tolerate the variable of climate change.

Exploring Farmers’ Decisions on Agricultural Intensification and Cropland Expansion in Ethiopia, Ghana, and Zambia through Serious Gaming

This paper explores how increasing agricultural productivity through agricultural intensification may influence farmland expansion decisions of smallholder farmers in Ethiopia, Ghana, and Zambia. Six pairs of farmers at each site (72 in total) from different wealth groups were involved in serious games sessions that simulated different institutional, economic, and governance contexts, with players choosing their resource allocation accordingly. The approach was used to explore with farmers, in a ‘safe space’, whether an increase in agricultural productivity and profitability via intensification would reduce or end farmland expansion into natural habitats. The results show that, under certain conditions (such as poor forest governance and lack of alternative income-generating and investment opportunities), agricultural intensification can lead to more agricultural expansion at the expense of natural habitats, such as forests and grasslands. This suggests that intensification strategies to promote increased productivity may need companion strategies to protect forest ecosystems from expansion at the agricultural frontier.

Sources of bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) seed in northwest Ethiopia

Smallholder farmers in Ethiopia are involved in multiple seed sources to access bread wheat seed. The present study was conducted in Baso Liben district, northwest Ethiopia, with the objectives of identifying the existing seed sources, factors affecting the use of improved bread wheat seed, and assessing practitioners’ (farmers and experts) suggestions to improve the existing bread wheat seed sources. Both quantitative and qualitative data were collected from 108 farmers and five local experts using semi-structured questionnaires and focus group discussions. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and a line-by-line examination of the transcripts of the FGDs. Results revealed that both formal and informal seed sources are available in the study area where farmers can access bread wheat seed. 41.5% of farmers utilized farm-saved seeds from the previous cropping season. The rest was accessed from neighboring farmers (11.4%), relatives (7.5%), and formal seed suppliers (39.6%). Yield advantage, disease tolerance, market value, and food quality were found to be the most common criteria in making the decision to use improved bread wheat varieties. The study confirms that both formal and informal seed sources are important in improving seed access to farmers. Hence, the importance of informal seed sources should be well-considered in policy development. Moreover, the government and development partners need to develop a mechanism to integrate both the formal and informal seed systems to improve seed availability.

The Contribution of Traditional Agroforestry Systems and Challenges of Adoption by Smallholder Farmers in Ethiopia. A review

Agroforestry is a system of land use that incorporates the use of trees with either crops, livestock, or both. In Ethiopia, traditional agroforestry systems such as home gardens, parkland, border planting, woodlots, coffee-based, enset-based, and fruit-based systems have been used. Therefore, the goal of this review study was to gather, arrange, and analyse traditional agroforestry systems’ social, economic, and environmental contributions as well as the factors influencing their uptake. In Ethiopia, traditional agroforestry systems enhanced biodiversity and improved the livelihood of the society by providing cash income, fuelwood, pole, timber, fencing, indigenous medicines and food. Additionally, they increase soil fertility and restore biomass carbon in the range of 12 to 228 Mg ha⁻1. Despite their importance, a variety of factors have prevented farmers from implementing these agroforestry techniques. They include the uncertainty of tenure, the availability of land, the age of the family’s leader, labour, gender, degree of education, access to training, and the availability of water. Therefore, it is important to encourage agroforestry practices in order to increase production, raise soil carbon stocks, and conserve biodiversity. This can be done through offering training, equitable land sharing, and institutional stability