Quantifying farmers' preferences for cropping systems intensification: A choice experiment approach applied in coastal Bangladesh's risk prone farming systems

Aravindakshan, Sreejith; Krupnik, Timothy J.; Amjath-Babu, T.S.; Speelman, Stijn; Tur-Cardona, Juan; Tittonell, Pablo; Groot, J.C.J.

doi:10.1016/j.agsy.2021.103069

Cited by 26 publications

(16 citation statements)

References 38 publications

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“…The study calls for revised theories of change in Sierra Leone and similar Sub-Saharan African countries. The most adequate course of action connects to promoting better market access for farmers and increasing the capability of farmers to better utilize their physical and social capitals in adopting the right mix of agricultural practices, crop preferences, technology choices, and livelihood strategies [53]. This is particularly challenging in the northern region, which exhibits a higher rate of autarky and self-consumption.…”

Section: Results Of Regression Analysismentioning

confidence: 99%

Can Enhancing Efficiency Promote the Economic Viability of Smallholder Farmers? A Case of Sierra Leone

et al. 2021

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By developing meta-frontier efficiency and structural equation models, the paper examines whether farm economic viability is positively associated with technical efficiency in a highly food insecure context, such as that of rural Sierra Leone. The findings show that technical efficiency can be a sufficient but not necessary condition in determining economic viability of smallholder farming. It is possible to breach reproductive thresholds at the cost of reduced technical efficiency, when the crop diversification strategy of smallholders includes market-oriented high-value crops. This calls for a dual policy approach that addresses farmers’ internal needs for self-consumption (increasing efficiency of food crop production) while encouraging market-oriented cash crop production (diversification assisted through the reduction of associated transaction costs and the establishment of accessible commercialization channels of export related crops and/or high-value crops). The work also calls out for a move-up or move-out strategy for small holders to create viable farming systems in developing world.

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Section: Results Of Regression Analysismentioning

confidence: 99%

Can Enhancing Efficiency Promote the Economic Viability of Smallholder Farmers? A Case of Sierra Leone

et al. 2021

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“…Such international or national development goals and associated policies-particularly those that pertain to agriculture-often do not fully account for the priorities and perceptual frameworks of rural communities (Aravindakshan et al, 2021). Yet, recent literature underscores the importance of embedding farmer knowledge and perceived impacts of drivers on their farming systems in agricultural policymaking (Tittonell et al, 2016).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Given the farming systems perceptions of each farmer typology group, represented in the FCM, our findings indicate that farmers perceive that both income and food security could be improved by increasing their access to extension and micro-credit in coastal Bangladesh. The importance of agricultural finance and access to quality advice from extension services in developing countries is widely acknowledged in the non-FCM literature (e.g., Aravindakshan et al, 2021;Vanlauwe et al, 2014), including in Bangladesh (Aravindakshan et al, 2018). These themes also appear in FCM studies; for example, Pacilly et al, 2016 on potato farmers in the Netherlands, and Pathinathan and Peter (2014) and Jayashree et al (2015) on farmers in India, showed the importance of agricultural extension in the successful crop management.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Socio-cognitive constraints and opportunities for sustainable intensification in South Asia: insights from fuzzy cognitive mapping in coastal Bangladesh

Aravindakshan

Krupnik

Shahrin

et al. 2021

Environ Dev Sustain

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Appreciating and dealing with the plurality of farmers’ perceptions and their contextual knowledge and perspectives of the functioning and performance of their agroecosystems—in other words, their ‘mental models’—is central for appropriate and sustainable agricultural development. In this respect, the sustainable development goals (SDGs) aim to eradicate poverty and food insecurity by 2030 by envisioning social inclusivity that incorporates the preferences and knowledge of key stakeholders, including farmers. Agricultural development interventions and policies directed at sustainable intensification (SI), however, do not sufficiently account for farmers’ perceptions, beliefs, priorities, or interests. Considering two contrasting agroecological systems in coastal Bangladesh, we used a fuzzy cognitive mapping (FCM)-based simulation and sensitivity analysis of mental models of respondents of different farm types from 240 farm households. The employed FCM mental models were able to (1) capture farmers’ perception of farming system concepts and relationships for each farm type and (2) assess the impact of external interventions (drivers) on cropping intensification and food security. We decomposed the FCM models’ variance into the first-order sensitivity index (SVI) and total sensitivity index (TSI) using a winding stairs algorithm. Both within and outside polder areas, the highest TSIs (35–68%) were observed for effects of agricultural extension on changes in other concepts in the map, particularly food security and income (SI indicators), indicating the importance of extension programs for SI. Outside polders, drainage and micro-credit were also influential; within polders, the availability of micro-credit appears to affect farmer perceptions of SI indicators more than drainage. This study demonstrated the importance of reflection on the differing perspectives of farmers both within and outside polders to identify entry points for development interventions. In addition, the study underscores the need for micro-farming systems-level research to assess the context-based feasibility of introduced interventions as perceived by farmers of different farm types.

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“…Applying choice experiments using simple games, which trade-off a series of alternative traits or business choices, would allow us to understand the primary motivations of end users and hence which traits should be included in CI strategies (e.g. Naico et al , 2010 ; Claessens et al , 2012 ; Aravindakshan et al , 2021 ). Agricultural economic studies can be augmented by real-time market data to support forecasts for desired traits for CI programs.…”

Section: Insights Into Future Strategies and Directionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

In pursuit of a better world: crop improvement and the CGIAR

Kholová

Urban

Cock

et al. 2021

Journal of Experimental Botany

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The CGIAR crop improvement (CI) programs, unlike commercial CI programs, which are mainly geared to profit though meeting farmers’ needs, are charged with meeting multiple objectives with target populations that include both farmers and the community at large. We compiled the opinions from more than thirty experts in the private and public sector on key strategies, methodologies and activities that could the help CGIAR meet the challenges of providing farmers with improved varieties while simultaneously meeting the goals of: (i) nutrition, health, and food security; (ii) poverty reduction, livelihoods, and jobs; (iii) gender equality, youth and inclusion; (iv) climate adaptation and mitigation and (v) environmental health and biodiversity. We review the crop improvement processes starting with crop choice, moving through to breeding objectives, production of potential new varieties, selection and finally adoption by farmers. The importance of multi-disciplinary teams working towards common objectives is stressed as a key factor to success. The role of the distinct disciplines, actors and their interactions throughout the process from crop choice through to adoption by farmers is discussed and illustrated.

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Quantifying farmers' preferences for cropping systems intensification: A choice experiment approach applied in coastal Bangladesh's risk prone farming systems

Cited by 26 publications

References 38 publications

Can Enhancing Efficiency Promote the Economic Viability of Smallholder Farmers? A Case of Sierra Leone

Can Enhancing Efficiency Promote the Economic Viability of Smallholder Farmers? A Case of Sierra Leone

Socio-cognitive constraints and opportunities for sustainable intensification in South Asia: insights from fuzzy cognitive mapping in coastal Bangladesh

In pursuit of a better world: crop improvement and the CGIAR

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