Participatory trials and farmers' social realities: understanding the adoption of legume technologies in a Malawian farmer community

Pircher, Thomas; Almekinders, C.J.M.; Kamanga, B.C.G.

doi:10.1080/14735903.2012.738872

Cited by 50 publications

(41 citation statements)

References 25 publications

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“…Results from the process help researchers, extension agents, and farmers to evaluate the economic effect of incremental changes of certain resources associated with the adoption process (Pitcher et al, 2013). With capital constraint, as is common under small-scale agriculture, higher returns may not be attractive if they require very much higher additional costs.…”

Section: Economic Profitability and Risk Analysesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Economic profitability and risk analyses of improved sorghum varieties in Tanzania

Kaliba¹,

Mazvimavi²,

Ghebreyesus³

2017

J. Dev. Agric. Econ.

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This study uses survey data collected in 2012/2013 farming season to determine the net-returns and utility-efficient farm management practices for improved sorghum varieties adopted by small-scale farmers in Tanzania. The reference farm management practice was using JEMBE (handhole) for land cultivation and growing local varieties (landraces). Other farm management practices included using ox-plough for land cultivation with or without applying manure for soil amendment, and using JEMBE for land cultivation with or without applying manure. Improved sorghum Varieties included Tegemeo, Pato, Macia, Wahi, Hakika, Mtama-1, and Sila. We used simulation and bootstrapping to estimate yield distributions and net returns and stochastic efficiency with respect to a function to complement first and second degree stochastic dominance analyses to determine varieties and farm management practice that reduce production and price risk. Under profit maximization and risk reduction assumptions, main results show that Macia and Mtama-1 varieties have high mean yield and low yield variability. Even under low inputs and extreme risk averse farmers, Macia and Mtama-1 were superior choices. Value addition activities increased price offered to farmers, which also reduced price risk.

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Section: Economic Profitability and Risk Analysesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Economic profitability and risk analyses of improved sorghum varieties in Tanzania

Kaliba¹,

Mazvimavi²,

Ghebreyesus³

2017

J. Dev. Agric. Econ.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Research examining CSA and soil and water conservation approaches in Ethiopia, Malawi, Rwanda, Kenya, and Uganda found that women and femaleheaded households were less likely than men and male-headed households to adopt these practices (Mugonola et al 2013, Ndiritu et al 2014, Murray et al 2016, Asfaw and Neka 2017, Nahayo et al 2017. This disparity was attributed to the greater challenges women face in securing financial capital, labor, and time to invest in these initiatives, as well as the existence of insecure land tenure regimes that discourage investment (Kinkingninhoun-Mêdagbé et al 2008, Pircher et al 2013, Asfaw and Neka 2017, Hove and Gweme 2018. Several studies from Malawi highlight another barrier to adoption of sustainable agricultural practices-gender-differentiated agricultural labor responsibilities.…”

Section: Agricultural Technology Promotionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Several studies from Malawi highlight another barrier to adoption of sustainable agricultural practices-gender-differentiated agricultural labor responsibilities. This means, for instance, that interventions seeking to improve soil nitrogen through the intercropping of legumes and maize may be ineffective when aimed at male agricultural decision-makers who view legumes as 'women's crops' (Pircher et al 2013, Mutenje et al 2016.…”

Section: Agricultural Technology Promotionmentioning

confidence: 99%

How does gendered vulnerability shape the adoption and impact of sustainable livelihood interventions in an era of global climate change?

Call

Sellers

2019

Environ. Res. Lett.

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Background. Though many studies have long considered the broad social implications of climate change, researchers have only recently started to consider the gendered unevenness of the global landscape of vulnerability, exposure, and adaptive capacity to environmental stressors and shocks. Historically, policies and interventions addressing natural resource-based livelihoods have rarely considered underlying gender dynamics despite the global pervasiveness of gendered disparities in both economic opportunities and welfare outcomes. Methods/Design. Using two electronic databases, Web of Science and Scopus, we conducted a systematic review of peer-reviewed academic literature describing livelihoods policies or interventions that included documentation of gendered impacts. We focused on natural resource-based livelihoods most likely to be affected by climate change, centering on interventions targeting agriculture, fisheries and aquaculture, and forestry. Review Results/ Synthesis. We identified 131 relevant articles, most of which focus on adoption or participation in interventions rather than outcomes. In general, women are less likely than men to engage with sustainable livelihoods interventions. When women do engage, some researchers have documented income and food security gains as well as improvements in environmental indicators in the shortterm. However, these initiatives have also been found to increase women's labor burden without corresponding gains in income. Few studies measure longer-term effects of women's engagement on welfare and environmental outcomes, a key gap in the literature. Additionally, relatively few studies explore the intersectional impacts of initiatives, such as the added burdens of ethnicity, class, education, or other differences that modify gender disparities. Discussion. Climate change has gendered impacts on natural resource-based livelihoods. In general, existing initiatives designed to increase livelihood resilience fail to reduce gender disparities and improve women's livelihoods. Greater attention should be paid to gender when designing sustainable livelihoods policies and interventions in order to increase adoption and participation, negotiate trade-offs, improve environmental conditions, and promote broadly beneficial welfare outcomes.

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“…With that given, the female farmer plants the legumes between the maize lines with little fertilizer and both the crops do well. In this technology, gender roles influence its adoption This technology has also worked in Malawi where gender differentiation is very important for farmer interest with legumes [25,26].…”

Section: The Maize Legume Intercrop Technology ("Mbili'')mentioning

confidence: 99%

Reflections on Efforts Geared toward Improved Soil Fertility and Crop Yields in Kenya

Chebet

Njoroge

Ng’etich

2019

IJPSS

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A successful strategy aimed at enhancing crop productivity relies on its ability to be implemented practically in the field (farmers’ field). Many research-based activities and promising soil fertility technologies are largely not adopted. This paper examines the impact of the agricultural research conducted at the University of Eldoret, agricultural institutes and the government of Kenya projects at a farm level on crop yields. Precisely, this paper narrows down to research done with an aim of exploring system approaches that address soil phosphorus and its effect on increasing crop yields in Western Kenya. Strategies like the collaboration of scientists and non scientists (transdisciplinary process) produced successful results. A qualified soil test with differentiated soil testing recommendations increases the yield by about 1.5 t dry maize ha-1. Participating in a transdisciplinary process provides an additional surplus of about 1 t dry maize ha-1 yield. Economically, this is a highly attractive result; given that soil testing costs around 20 USD, a surplus of 1 t dry maize returns approximately 330 USD. Although literature registers success stories of many research work, there is slow and limited adoption rate of the output by farmers. We suggest the development and expansion of transdisciplinary research and creation of Farmer Research Network to seek a one-size-fits-all solution for farmers to adopt technologies with proven success.

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Participatory trials and farmers' social realities: understanding the adoption of legume technologies in a Malawian farmer community

Cited by 50 publications

References 25 publications

Economic profitability and risk analyses of improved sorghum varieties in Tanzania

Economic profitability and risk analyses of improved sorghum varieties in Tanzania

How does gendered vulnerability shape the adoption and impact of sustainable livelihood interventions in an era of global climate change?

Reflections on Efforts Geared toward Improved Soil Fertility and Crop Yields in Kenya

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