Articles, Conference and Workshop Papers Collection

Permanent URI for this collectionhttp://10.10.97.169:4000/handle/123456789/1000

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Affecting the adoption of rain water harvesting technologies in western Pare lowlands of Tanzania
(1998) Mdoe, N.S.Y.; Hatibu, N.; Mahoo, H.; Gowing, J.; Senkondo, E.M.M
4,d.oPtion,oj. tech,!ology.is an importantfactor in economic development especia.lly.' in developing fountries~ s.ucc,essful introduction of technologies in d~eloping countries requires an understanding gf .the prioriti~s and concerns of smallholder fanners at the grassroots. This. paper analyses the soc,io-economic factors t~at influence the adoption of rain water harvesting (RWH) technologies tli !ye~te,!, Pare lowlands of Tanzania. Data for the study. were collected from 70 smallholder farmers {'! Kifar;uandLembeni viilages. These data were fitted in Probit and Logit models. ,The results of the Rrobit model are used to explain adoption of RWH in Western Pare lowlands because it produced b§tte[ fits compa'red with the Logit model. The results of the probit model shows that/arm size, nUmber .oj family members working in the fann, experience in fanning, and extent of knowledge in RWH techniques were significant in explaining 'the inte1}sity of adoption ofRWH techniques. Regarding farmers perceived technology ch.ara~cteristics, the results show thaUanners' appreciation .of RWH as a factor contributing to increased crop yield was positively and significantly explaining the intensity qt q,d.option o/RWH. This suggests that.!ligher yieltJS, attain(!d with the use ofRWH techniques will enc(Jurage adoption of the (echniques. It is therefore.recommended that·efforts to promote the use of RWH techniques shQuld go together with. the use of other recommended improved inputs to bring higher returns to farmers.
Determinants for adoption of physical soil and water conservation measures by smallholder farmers in Ethiopia
(ScienceDirect, 2019) Sileshi, Million; Kadigi, Reuben; Mutabazi, Khamaldin; Sieber, Stefan
Adoption rates of soil and water conservation measures remain below the expected levels in Ethiopia despite the considerable investments in reducing land degradation and improving soil fertility. This constitutes one of the key research agendas in the country. This paper underscores the need for inves- tigating the factors hindering or facilitating the adoption of soil and water conservation measures. The study results presented in this paper are based on cross-section data collected from 408 households in eastern Ethiopia, including field observations of 790 plots selected using a multi-stage sampling pro- cedure. A multivariate probit model was employed to analyse the determinants of adoption of three soil and water conservation measures (stone bund, soil bund, and bench terracing) at the plot level. The study findings reveal that household, socioeconomic, and institution characteristics were the key factors that influenced the adoption of soil bund, stone bund, and bench terracing conservation measures. Furthermore, there was a significant correlation among the three soil and water conservation measures, indicating that the adoption of these measures is interrelated. In particular, the results show that there was a positive correlation between stone bunds and soil bunds. However, the correlations between bench terracing and stone bunds as well as bench terracing and soil bunds were negative (implying substitutability). These results imply that the Government and other relevant organizations that are responsible for reducing land degradation in order to increase agricultural production should support the establishment and strengthening of local institutions to facilitate the adoption of soil and water con- servation measures.
Gliricidia agroforestry technology adoption potential in selected dryland areas of Dodoma region, Tanzania
(MDPI, 2020-07-20) Swamila, M.; Philip, D.; Akyoo, A. M.; Sieber, S.; Bekunda, M.; Kimaro, A. A.
Declining soil fertility is one of the major problems facing producers of field crops in most dryland areas of Sub-Saharan Africa. In response to the declining soil fertility, extensive participatory research has been undertaken by the World Agroforestry (ICRAF) and smallholder farmers in Dodoma region, Tanzania. The research has, amongst others, led to the development of Gliricidia agroforestry technology. The positive impact of Gliricidia intercropping on crop yields has been established. However, information on farmers’ willingness and ability to adopt the Gliricidia agroforestry technology on their farms is limited. This study predicts the adoption of Gliricidia agroforestry and conventional mineral fertilizer use technology. Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) were conducted with groups of farmers, purposively selected based on five sets of criteria: (i) at least 2 years of experience in either trying or using Gliricidia agroforestry technology, (ii) at least 1 year of experience in either trying or using the mineral fertilizer technology (iii) at least 10 years of living in the study villages, (iv) the age of 18 years and above, and (v) sex. The Adoption and Diffusion Outcome Prediction Tool (ADOPT) was used to predict the peak adoption levels and the respective time in years. A sensitivity analysis was conducted to assess the effect of change in adoption variables on predicted peak adoption levels and time to peak adoption. The results revealed variations in peak adoption levels with Gliricidia agroforestry technology exhibiting the highest peak of 67.6% in 12 years, and that the most influential variable to the peak adoption is the upfront cost of investing in Gliricidia agroforestry and fertilizer technologies. However, in Gliricidia agroforestry technology most production costs are incurred in the first year of project establishment but impact the long term biophysical and economic benefits. Moreover, farmers practicing agroforestry technology accrue environmental benefits, such as soil erosion control. Based on the results, it is plausible to argue that Gliricidia agroforestry technology has a high adoption potential and its adoption is influenced by investment costs. We recommend two actions to attract smallholder farmers investing in agroforestry technologies. First, enhancing farmers’ access to inputs at affordable prices. Second, raising farmers’ awareness of the long-term environmental benefits of Gliricidia agroforestry technology.
A Small Push Goes a Long Way: Farmers' Participation in Rainwater Harvesting Technology Development
(1999) Lazaro, E.A.; Senkondo, E.M.M.; Bakari, A.; Kishebuka, S.R.; Kajiru, G.J.
Farmer partieipation in decision making at various phases of project implementation contributes very.highly to project success. The Soil-Water Management Research Programme (SWMRP) has gained valuable experience in the involvement offarmer in all phases during the implementation of the programme .. The programme used the following instruments to ensure farmer participation: • Socio-economic ~urvey~~ including Participatory and Rapid Rural Appraisals. • Farmer participation in onjarm experimentation. • Participatory technology evaluation through workshops and seminars aimed at monitoring project ppformanqe and getting feedback from stakeholders. The process of farmer participation evolved over the duration of the project.·l!essons learnt at the begin.ning were incorporated in the research process over time. Initially, the planning of the ex-' periments did not fully allow jor farmer participation. This shortcoming was lat'er rectified, and more farmer participation was allowed. Among the achievements of the project is the construction of a water diversion canal worth about Tanzanian Shillings 1.28 million in Hedaru village, Same DistTict. The structure is currently supplying water to about 45 hectares in the village. The programme contributed only 18 % of the total cost in terms of materials (6%) and technical'supp01t (12%). Farmer participation enabled mobilization of resources w01th the remaining 82% of the total cost. The contributions were in the form of cash, labour, materials and decision making. This paper analyses the process offarmer participation in this programme and how it has influenced the pe~fo17nance of the programme. It is concluded that, with effeCtive participation, minimum extemal support (small push) can result into substantial achievements.

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