scholarly journals Factors Influencing Adoption of Improved Structural Soil and Water Conservation Measures in Eastern Ethiopia

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Muluken Gezahegn Wordofa ◽  
Eric N. Okoyo ◽  
Eliso Erkalo
Keyword(s):  
Natural Resources ◽  
Water Conservation ◽  
Smallholder Farmers ◽  
Structured Interview ◽  
Soil And Water Conservation ◽  
Primary Data ◽  
Eastern Ethiopia ◽  
Factors Influencing ◽  
Household Members ◽  
Soil And Water

Abstract Background Agriculture remains to be the leading sector that contributes enormously to economic development in Ethiopia. Despite its significant contribution to livelihoods, the sector faces persistent challenges due to depletion of natural resources and soil erosion that resulted in diminishing crop and livestock productivity. In order to curb the effects of land degradation, the Government of Ethiopia has been taking serious measures to expand Soil and Water Conservation (SWC) practices throughout the country. Despite the efforts made, the adoption of new practices by farmers have been generally low. This study was aimed to assess factors influencing smallholder farmers’ decision on the use of improved structural SWC practices in Haramaya district, eastern Ethiopia. A multi-stage sampling technique was used to select 120 farm households and 248 plots. A structured interview schedule was used to collect primary data. Descriptive and inferential statistics and Multinomial Logit (MNL) regression model were used to analyze the data. Results The key findings showed that a host of socio-demographic, economic and institutional factors significantly affected smallholders’ decision to adopt improved structural SWC. In this study, we found that education, farming experience, plot area, distance of the plot from dwelling, number of economically active household members, and extension contact were the significant predictors of using improved SWC structures. Conclusions Based on our findings, we conclude that improved SWC measures should be scaled up through a concerted effort of extension workers, local administration and other relevant non-state actors. In particular, the extension system should encourage rural communities on sustainable management and use of natural resources. Moreover, the need to create learning opportunities through facilitating appropriate training programs for farmers and focusing on proper management of available economically active household members should be emphasized.

scholarly journals Factors Influencing Adoption of Improved Structural Soil and Water Conservation Measures in Eastern Ethiopia

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Muluken Gezahegn Wordofa ◽  
Eric N. Okoyo ◽  
Eliso Erkalo
Keyword(s):  
Natural Resources ◽  
Water Conservation ◽  
Smallholder Farmers ◽  
Structured Interview ◽  
Soil And Water Conservation ◽  
Primary Data ◽  
Eastern Ethiopia ◽  
Factors Influencing ◽  
Household Members ◽  
Soil And Water

Abstract Background: Agriculture remains to be the leading sector that contributes enormously to economic development in Ethiopia. Despite its significant contribution to livelihoods, the sector faces persistent challenges due to depletion of natural resources and soil erosion that resulted in diminishing crop and livestock productivity. In order to curb the effects of land degradation, the Government of Ethiopia has been taking serious measures to expand Soil and Water Conservation (SWC) practices throughout the country. Despite the efforts made, the adoption of new practices by farmers have been generally low. This study was aimed at assessing factors influencing smallholder farmers’ decision on the use of improved structural SWC practices in Haramaya district, eastern Ethiopia. A multi-stage sampling technique was used to select 120 farm households and 248 plots. A structured interview schedule was used to collect primary data. Descriptive and inferential statistics and Multinomial Logit (MNL) regression model were used to analyze the data. Results: The key findings showed that a host of socio-demographic, economic and institutional factors significantly affected smallholders’ decision to adopt improved structural SWC. In this study, we found that education, farming experience, plot area, distance of the plot from dwelling unit, number of economically active household members, and extension contact were the significant predictors of using improved SWC structures. Conclusions: Based on our findings, we concluded that improved SWC measures should be scaled up through a concerted effort of extension workers, local administration and other relevant non-state actors. In particular, the extension system should encourage rural communities on sustainable management and use of natural resources. Moreover, the need to create learning opportunities through facilitating appropriate educational and training programs for farmers and focusing on proper management of available economically active household members should be emphasized.

scholarly journals Factors influencing adoption of sustainable soil and water conservation practices among smallholder farmers in Kwara State, Nigeria

2020 ◽  
Vol 24 (4) ◽  
pp. 113-121
Author(s):  
Abigail Oluwatunmise Iyilade ◽  
Oluwasegun Ayodeji Alalade ◽  
Morenike Peju Longe ◽  
Agnes Olubunmi Alokan ◽  
Blessing Akinola-soji
Keyword(s):  
Significant Relationship ◽  
Water Conservation ◽  
Smallholder Farmers ◽  
Sampling Procedure ◽  
Soil And Water Conservation ◽  
Conservation Practices ◽  
Agricultural Policies ◽  
Access To Credit ◽  
Factors Influencing ◽  
Soil And Water

The study examined the factors influencing the adoption of soil and water conservation practices (SWCPs) among smallholder farmers in Kwara State, Nigeria. Multi-stage sampling procedure was used to select 210 farmers. Farmers were surveyed for their adoption of eleven (11) SWCPs, and risk factors and costs of production. Poisson regression model was employed to estimate soil and water conservation practices adoption. Sex, access to credit, land acquisition, technical support, ownership of livestock, distance to input/market, marital status and formal trainings had a significant relationship with the number of soil and water conservation practices adopted by smallholder farmers (P ≤0.01). Some personal and demographic factors, institutional factors, as well as socio-economic factors have a significant relationship with soils and water conservation practices adopted by farmers. Agricultural policies should be geared towards helping smallholder farmers have access to extension service for frequent dissemination of agricultural technology as this will increase the rate of adoption of soil and water conservation practices. Keywords: Adoption, Soil and water conservation techniques; smallholder farmers, Kwara State

Determinants of smallholder farmers’ decisions on fertilizer use for cereal crops in the Ethiopian highlands

2020 ◽  
Vol 56 (5) ◽  
pp. 677-687
Author(s):  
Tewodros Tefera ◽  
Eyasu Elias ◽  
Christy van Beek
Keyword(s):  
Family Size ◽  
Water Conservation ◽  
Smallholder Farmers ◽  
Soil And Water Conservation ◽  
Ethiopian Highlands ◽  
Fertilizer Use ◽  
Access To Credit ◽  
Education Status ◽  
Fertilizer Adoption ◽  
Soil And Water

AbstractThis study identified decision variables influencing fertilizer adoption and optimal fertilizer rates among smallholder farmers in the Ethiopian highlands. The fertilizer adoption and fertilizer use were examined in four regional states using a questionnaire survey, which was administered to 2880 farm households. A double hurdle model was used to analyze factors influencing the two independent decisions of adoption of fertilizers and use of fertilizers. The model estimates of the first hurdle revealed that the probability of fertilizer adoption increased by 1.2% as household education status improved, by 1.4% for an increased number of active family members, by 5.6% with improved access to credit, by 3.4% with cooperative membership, by 3.3% with an increase in farm size, by 4.6% when soil and water conservation practices are employed, and by 3.4% when agroecology of the farm is located in the medium to highland zone. Conversely, the probability of fertilizer adoption reduced by 0.9% for an increase in family size, 0.6% with 1 km distance from all-weather road, 1.6% for a kilometer further to farm plots, and 0.9% for an increase in number of parcels. The intensity of use of fertilizers was influenced by education status of the household head, family size, access to credit, membership to cooperatives, use of crop rotation, annual income, number of farm plots owned, use of soil and water conservation, and agroecology. Therefore, a concerted effort is needed to encourage fertilizer adoption and optimum fertilizer use intensity by improving households’ resource endowment, institutional capacity to deliver services, and infrastructure development.

Factors influencing adoption and continued use of long-term soil and water conservation measures in five developing countries

2008 ◽  
Vol 28 (4) ◽  
pp. 271-280 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. de Graaff ◽  
A. Amsalu ◽  
F. Bodnár ◽  
A. Kessler ◽  
H. Posthumus ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Developing Countries ◽  
Water Conservation ◽  
Soil And Water Conservation ◽  
Factors Influencing ◽  
Conservation Measures ◽  
Continued Use ◽  
Soil And Water

scholarly journals Farmers Characteristics in Relation to Soil and Water Conservation: The Case of Yongdeng County, China

2020 ◽  
pp. 33-41
Author(s):  
Samuel Adingo ◽  
Xiaodan Li ◽  
Liu Xue-Lu ◽  
Frederick Kwame Yeboah
Keyword(s):  
Water Conservation ◽  
Positive Impact ◽  
Gansu Province ◽  
Soil And Water Conservation ◽  
Farm Size ◽  
Primary Data ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Full Potential ◽  
Use Of Resources ◽  
Soil And Water

Many soil and water conservation technologies have been promoted and spread to encourage the sustainable use of resources by small-scale farmers, but soil degradation continues intensively. The objective of this study therefore, was to identify the measures of Soil and Water Conservation, the factors that inform the adoption and use Soil and Water Conservation measures and evaluate the limitations to realize and maintain of these conservation practices. This study was done in Yongdeng County which falls under the governance of the city-level prefecture of Lanzhou, the capital of Gansu Province. One hundred farmers were randomly selected. Primary data was obtained through interviews and group discussion with farmers, and agricultural extension workers and field survey. The results revealed that the level of education and farm size did not affect the use of SWC measures. Unlike formal education, membership of the group of farmers was significant and had positive correlation with SWC measures. SWC education and training was significant and had a positive impact on the use of SWC measures. The study found that SWC structures commonly used by farmers in the study area include terraces (30%), contour ploughing (20%) and the use of drains. The agronomic practices commonly used are agroforestry, crop rotation and the use of grass strips. Farmers identified poverty, ignorance and lack of technical advice as the main obstacles to realizing the full potential of soil and water conservation in the area. Poorly laid out soil conservation structures were also accelerating soil erosion. These results show that, in order to ensure adequate soil and water conservation, particular attention must be paid to institutional and economic factors. Also, to encourage farmers’ participation in education and extension training on SWC, it is vital to strengthen the relationship between extension workers and farmers.

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