Adoption Intensity of Selected Organic-Based Soil Fertility Management Technologies in the Central Highlands of Kenya

Abstract

Soil fertility decline continues to be a major challenge limiting agricultural productivity globally. Despite the novelty of organic-based technologies in enhancing agricultural production in Kenya's central highlands, adoption is low. Therefore, we carried out a cross-sectional household survey of 300 randomly selected smallholder farmers to determine the specific organic-based practices by farmers; and the socioeconomic factors that influence the adoption intensity of selected organic-based technologies. We used descriptive statistics to summarize the data and the Tobit regression model to evaluate the socioeconomic determinants of adoption intensity of selected organic-based technologies. We identified nine organic-based technologies that had different adoption rates among the farmers. The majority of the farmers had adopted manure (97%) and manure combined with fertilizer (92%) in Murang'a and Tharaka-Nithi, respectively. Manure was applied to the largest land in Murang'a with 31% of the cultivated land. In comparison, manure combined with fertilizer had the highest adoption intensity in Tharaka-Nithi applied to about 25% of the cultivated land. Gender, age of the household head, level of education, household size, access to external labor, training, Tropical Livestock Unit, agriculture group membership, access to credit, land cultivated, and farming experience influenced the adoption intensity of organic-based technologies among smallholder farmers. Based on the smallholder farmers' adoption behavior, this study can be used to disaggregate the farming households better in order to tailor specific organic-based soil fertility technologies solutions that meet their unique needs. One group would be those households that face specific constraints, as reflected in their low adoption rates, women-headed households and older farmers, and thus require more targeted / intensive efforts to overcome these barriers. The other group would be those households that require less focus because, when confronted with the technologies, they are more likely to adopt them easily, for example, the male-headed households. Hence, the smallholder farmers' adoption behavior, can enable policymakers to form a base for designing appropriate policies that encourage the adoption of organic-based soil fertility technology by smallholder farmers.

Gender-specific determinants of Zai technology use intensity for improved soil water management in the drylands of Upper Eastern Kenya

“…This finding collaborates with other studies conducted in the region by Mugwe et al. (2009) and Mwaura et al. (2021) .…”

“…A majority of the interviewed households were male-headed. This finding collaborates with other studies conducted in the region by Mugwe et al (2009) and Mwaura et al (2021). The implication is that, men dominate major farm decision-making activities at the household level (Macharia et al, 2014).…”

“…Upper Eastern Kenya faces similar challenges of soil moisture stress, declining soil fertility, and reduced agricultural yields promoting various research and development efforts on soil and water conservation ( Mucheru-Muna et al., 2010 ; Ngetich et al., 2014 ; Kimaru-Muchai et al., 2020 ). In response to these challenges, smallholder farmers usually apply various conservation strategies, but often at lower rates than the recommended ( Mugwe et al., 2009 ; Kiboi et al., 2017 ; Mwaura et al., 2021 ). This aggravates production volatility heightening the food crisis in the rural economies ( Mganga et al., 2015 ; Rojas et al., 2016 ; Sinyolo, 2020 ).…”

Communication factors influencing adoption of soil and water conservation technologies in the dry zones of Tharaka-Nithi County, Kenya

“…Training is essential in capacity building by enhancing farmers' access to information; thus, it increases the likelihood of adoption of agricultural innovations (Kimaru- Muchai et al, 2020). We attributed the lower number of trained farmers to a reduction in the number of service providers and training personnel such as extension agents and the cost of training as also reported by (Macharia et al, 2014;Mwaura et al, 2021) in the study area. The majority of the households belonged to a farmer group.…”

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

“…In aggregate, the promotion of agricultural technologies in this region cannot be described as successful (Tittonell et al, 2005), and this is reflected in the poor or declining crop yields in areas where technology adoption is low (Aura, 2016). The decline persists despite the intervention of both private and public extension agents working with farmers (Mwaura et al, 2021;Odulaja and Kiros, 1996). Extension education and training programs are intended to provide skills and resources to improve farming practices, and to transmit knowledge that overcomes farmer agricultural challenges and improve agricultural production efficiency.…”