Economic analysis of soil erosion effects in alley cropping, no-till and bush fallow systems in South Western Nigeria

Ehui, Simeon K.; Kang, Β. T.; Spencer, Dunstan S. C.

doi:10.1016/0308-521x(90)90013-g

Cited by 56 publications

(29 citation statements)

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“…The above finding raises a cautionary note to the conventionally held views to target conservation technologies to areas with high land use and demographic pressures (Ehui, etal;1992;Carter, 1993;Onu, 2006). Farmers in the studied erosionprone communities are perhaps more likely to have higher labour productivity from investments in other conservation and resource management technology alternatives such as in organic manure and chemical fertilizers.…”

Section: Multivariate Probit Model Results Of Determinants Of Farm Lementioning

confidence: 92%

“…On the one hand, it has been suggested that with a declining land base due to soil erosion and weak credit market to insulate the households from land shortages, households would be compelled to husband carefully their declining resource base through conservation investments (Ehui et al, 1992). On the other hand, Newbery and Stiglitz (1981) suggest that the risk resulting from price and rainfall instability or from insecurity of the land tenure (risk of appropriation of capital) is inimical to investments in soil conservation for risk averse farmers.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Farm level analysis of investment behaviours in soil conservation and erosion control practices in the ecologically vulnerable communities in Southeast Nigeria

Orji¹

2013

ABJNA

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This study analyzed the determinants of farm-level soil conservation investment behaviours in Southeast Nigeria. A probit econometric model was used to analyze data obtained from 480 randomly selected farm households from 12 erosion-prone communities in the region. The results show that younger farmers aged between 18-44 years cultivating at least 0.7 ha of land over which they have control in terms of allocation and usage had higher probabilities of investing in the conservation practices compared to the older farmers. Investment decisions increased with increased farm households' own liquidity, off-farm income, knowledge of the practices through extension contacts, level of formal education, ownership and control over cultivated lands, length of land lease, membership in farmers' associations, and farm sizes greater than the mean farm size of 0.7ha. But insecurity of land tenure generally increased farmers' risk of appropriation of input resources and decreased investments in the practices, especially for the female farmers who do not have title to land in the area. Investments in the practices also decreased with increased family sizes and the erosion-induced land scarcity conditions in the region. The study confirms the importance of recognizing the heterogeneity of the farming population not only in terms of the biophysical conditions of their farms but also the socioeconomic and demographic conditions under which they operate. Extension efforts in Southeast Nigeria should therefore target the younger farmers and promote projects aimed at developing off-farm enterprises, since these positively influence household liquidity and investments in conservation practices.

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Section: Multivariate Probit Model Results Of Determinants Of Farm Lementioning

confidence: 92%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Farm level analysis of investment behaviours in soil conservation and erosion control practices in the ecologically vulnerable communities in Southeast Nigeria

Orji¹

2013

ABJNA

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“…In a comparative analysis of traditional bush fallow systems with no-till and alley cropping in Nigeria, labour savings under the no-till technology were substantial (Ehui et al, 1990). In studies of smallholders in Latin America, net farm income and returns to labour were much higher under CA than conventional practice.…”

Section: Potential Of Ca On Smallholder Farmsmentioning

confidence: 96%

Positive Aspects of Conservation Agriculture

2016

IJSR

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A multi-pronged approach was adopted in gathering data for this study. Information sources included the Internet, agency and departmental reports, journal papers, conference papers and analytical reports. This paper presents some positive aspects of conservation agriculture. Conservation agriculture has emerged as an alternative to conventional agriculture. The rationale or case for CA is its potential ability to reduce soil degradation through several practices that minimize the alteration of soil composition and structure. It specifically purports to address the problems of soil degradation resulting from agricultural practices that deplete the organic matter and nutrient content of the soil, and reduce crop production, productivity and sustainability. CA also increases farm financial profitability and food security and enhances environmental integrity. Potential economic benefits associated with CA include a reduction in on-farm costs and an increase in yields and long-term yield stability. Ecosystem benefits of CA include stabilization of soils and protection from erosion, reduced siltation of water bodies, recharge of aquifers, and more regular river flows. CA also mitigates climate change by carbon sequestration in soils and reduced burning of crop residues. Constraints to CA adoption in sub-Saharan Africa include a low degree of mechanization within the smallholder farming system; a lack of appropriate implements; a lack of appropriate soil fertility management options; problems of weed control under no-till systems; poor access to credit; a lack of appropriate technical information for change agents and farmers; blanket recommendations that ignore the resource status of rural households; competition for crop residues in mixed crop-livestock systems; and labour shortages. There appears to be considerable potential for adoption of CA under smallholder farming systems in sub-Saharan Africa. However, the only feasible way to tap that potential appears to rest with the establishment and implementation of appropriate policy initiatives that address ecological, financial and socio-economic constraints facing the smallholder farming sector.

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“…Thematic area F: CA products and input market conditions at village and regional level; addresses issues specifically related to market availability and access, as 'market forces undoubtedly are of importance in explaining the rate of adoption of farm innovations' (Rogers, 2003, p. 213), the availability of basic infrastructures such as farm to market roads and irrigation possibilities as well as the level of other economic actors' engagement in CA promotion (Ehui et al, 1992). A further check is made on the availability of quality control measures and implementation (Bringe et al, 2006).…”

Section: Review Of Ca Influencing Factors and Grouping Along Thematicmentioning

confidence: 99%

Adoption Potential for Conservation Agriculture in Africa: A Newly Developed Assessment Approach (QAToCA) Applied in Kenya and Tanzania

et al. 2012

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Conservation agriculture (CA) is often promoted as a set of cropping practices to reduce soil erosion and maintain soil fertility, while decreasing production costs and increasing crop yields. However, CA adoption is extremely low in Africa. Most investigations on constraints of its adoption leave out (i) the characteristics of CA as an emerging innovation and (ii) the wider institutional context. A comprehensive selfassessment tool for a systematic evaluation of factors influencing the CA adoption process at the field, farm and regional scale in a variety of regional contexts in Africa is still lacking. In an attempt to fill this knowledge gap, this article presents the motivation, development and testing of a Qualitative expert Assessment Tool for CA adoption in Africa (QAToCA) and its application. QAToCA is directed to regional experts, research teams and managers of development projects with a focus on CA, and allows them to assess their CA activities along a systematic, expert-based list of questions and criteria. Specifically, it aims at assessing the adoption potential of CA under the varied agro-ecological, socio-economic, cultural and institutional conditions of Africa as well as the specific supporting and hindering factors influencing this process.As an example, its application in Kenya and Tanzania identified a relatively high CA adoption potential. The following factors, however, are noticed to require further improvement: accessibility of markets for CA products and inputs; adaptation of machinery and seeds to the CA practices; introduction of quality implementation measures; and a renewed motivation (interest) among CA service providers.

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Economic analysis of soil erosion effects in alley cropping, no-till and bush fallow systems in South Western Nigeria

Cited by 56 publications

References 13 publications

Farm level analysis of investment behaviours in soil conservation and erosion control practices in the ecologically vulnerable communities in Southeast Nigeria

Farm level analysis of investment behaviours in soil conservation and erosion control practices in the ecologically vulnerable communities in Southeast Nigeria

Positive Aspects of Conservation Agriculture

Adoption Potential for Conservation Agriculture in Africa: A Newly Developed Assessment Approach (QAToCA) Applied in Kenya and Tanzania

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