Determinants of Participation in Sustainable Agribusiness Initiatives Among Cassava Processors

Determinants of Permaculture Awareness among Vegetable Farmers in Perlis

Permaculture has emerged as a sustainable agricultural approach that enhances ecological resilience, promotes resource efficiency, and supports long-term productivity, particularly within small-scale farming systems. However, despite its potential benefits, awareness and willingness to adopt permaculture practices among vegetable farmers remain relatively limited, especially among home growers in rural communities. In Perlis, vegetable farmers across five districts: Bintong, Mata Ayer, Paya, Padang Siding, and Beseri, were continuing to experience constraints such as limited exposure, financial concerns, and uneven understanding of sustainable agricultural innovations, which may hinder broader adoption. Therefore, this study aims to examine the factors influencing awareness of adopting permaculture practices among vegetable farmers in Perlis, focusing on two main variables, namely cost and knowledge (comprehension). A quantitative cross-sectional survey design was employed, involving 52 respondents selected from the Department of Agriculture (DOA) Perlis database. Data were analyzed using SPSS software, incorporating frequency analysis, reliability testing, Pearson correlation analysis, and multiple regression analysis to determine the relationships and predictive strength of the identified factors. The findings indicate that the research instruments achieved acceptable reliability levels. Inferential analysis shows that cost has a statistically significant relationship with awareness of permaculture adoption, with a p-value of 0.003 (p < 0.05), indicating a meaningful influence on farmers’ awareness. Nevertheless, knowledge or comprehension is not statistically significant, with a p-value of 0.512 (p > 0.05), suggesting that it does not significantly contribute to awareness within the present model. Regression results further confirm that cost is the dominant predictor compared to knowledge. In conclusion, awareness of permaculture practices among small-scale vegetable farmers in Perlis is primarily shaped by financial considerations rather than knowledge-related factors. Therefore, targeted interventions such as subsidies, cost-sharing initiatives, and financial support mechanisms may be more effective in enhancing awareness and encouraging adoption of permaculture practices among home growers in the region.

Factors Influencing Farmers’ Willingness to Participate in Agritourism in Mpumalanga Province, South Africa

Entrepreneurship and Strategic Development of Agribusiness Opportunities in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria

The study examined the effect of entrepreneurship on strategic development of agribusiness opportunities in Akwa Ibom State. It evaluated entrepreneurial traits such as skill development, pro-activeness, and innovativeness of SMEs entrepreneurs in the study area. Data were collected from 159 respondents drawn from six (6) Agricultural Zones (Abak, Eket, Etinan, Ikot Ekpene, Oron, and Uyo zones) across the three (3) senatorial district, comprising thirty-one (31) Agricultural Centers using structured questionnaire. Collected data were analyzed using descriptive statistics (frequencies, percentages, and means), and inferential statistics (Pearson correlation analysis). The results revealed that majority of the respondents (58.5 %) were male with highest occurring age class (38.4 %) being 40 – 49 years old. Most exploited opportunities in the study area were in the order Cassava farming > catfish production > poultry farming > fruit and Vegetable farming > maize farming with 37.1, 34, 30.8, 29.6 and 28.9 % of the respondents respectively. The study confirmed that there is a significant effect between elements of entrepreneurship and strategic development of agribusiness opportunities in the study area. Specifically, pro-activeness, and innovativeness had significant correlation, as skill development showed fairly significant correlation with number of agribusiness opportunities utilized by SMEs in the study area (p<0.05) with r = 0.243, 0.245 and 0.168, respectively. It was therefore inferred that innovativeness, pro-activeness, and skill level in that order are important entrepreneurial traits influencing strategic development of agribusiness opportunities for SMEs in Akwa Ibom State. Hence, it was recommended among others that government and non-governmental organizations should establish a well-equipped technology incubation center that can assist entrepreneurs to upskill their skills to boost their entrepreneurial orientation for strategic development of agribusiness opportunities for SMEs in the State.

Uncovering Barriers to Sustainable Oil Palm Farming: Evidence from Independent Smallholders in Johor, Malaysia

This research identifies the principal obstacles obstructing the adoption of sustainable farming practices among independent oil palm smallholders in Johor, Malaysia. Employing a quantitative, cross-sectional design, survey data from 301 farmers were analysed utilising descriptive and inferential statistics. Three significant obstacles arose: (1) Institutional: Merely 15.0% attained MSPO/RSPO certification, significantly below national objectives; (2) Knowledge and economic: Adoption rates for knowledge-intensive practices remain low (natural pest control M=3.15, composting M=3.25), despite a moderate overall adoption rate (M=3.39); (3) Support deficit: Government support received the lowest score (M=3.10 on a 5-point scale), with only 19.6% indicating receipt of subsidies. The Pearson correlation indicated a moderate positive correlation between perceived government support and the adoption of practices (r=0.42, p<.01). Notwithstanding obstacles, self-reported environmental, social, and economic performance remained elevated (M>3.52), indicating possible advantages from implementation. The findings highlight the necessity for policy interventions that address the economic constraints and resource limitations faced by independent smallholders in order to align sustainability policies. JEL Codes: Keywords: sustainable agriculture, oil palm; independent smallholders, adoption barriers, certification (MSPO/RSPO), government support

Determinants of Indigenous Organic Farming Practices Adoption among Cassava Farmers in Kwara State, Nigeria

This study examined the determinants of indigenous organic farming practices adoption among cassava farmers in Kwara State, Nigeria. Multistage sampling procedure was used to select 90 cassava farmers from Kwara State Agricultural Development Programme (KWADP) Zone C. Data were collected using structured questionnaires and analyzed using descriptive statistics and binary logistic regression. The results showed that 64.4% of the respondents were male, while 63.3% were within the economically active age range of 20–40 years. About 70.0% of the farmers had tertiary education, and 57.8% had household sizes of between 4–6 persons. Institutional characteristics revealed that 68.9% of the respondents were members of farmers’ associations, and majority of them 83.3% had access to extension services, most of them 71.1% had access to credit for farming activities. The logistic regression results indicated that education level (β = 0.683, p < 0.05), farming experience (β = 0.686, p < 0.05), access to extension services (β = 2.739, p < 0.01), access to credit (β = 2.645, p < 0.05), and membership of farmers’ associations (β = 1.231, p < 0.05) significantly influenced adoption of indigenous organic farming practices. Access to extension services increased the likelihood of adoption by over fifteen times. The study concludes that institutional support and farmers’ capacity-building are critical to enhancing indigenous organic farming adoption among cassava farmers. Strengthening extension delivery, improving credit access, and promoting farmers’ organizations are recommended to scale up sustainable cassava production in the study area.  

DETERMINANTS OF FARMLAND MARKET PARTICIPATION AMONG SMALLHOLDER FARMERS IN OGUN STATE, NIGERIA.

Farmland access remains a key constraint for smallholder farmers in Nigeria, with increasing reliance on the land rental market. This study investigates the determinants of farmland market participation among smallholder farmers in Ogun State across different land arrangement types, socio-economic characteristics, and participation outcomes. Primary data from 150 respondents were analyzed using descriptive statistics, multinomial logistic regression, bivariate logit model, and a problem ranking index. Result of the socio-economic analysis revealed that most farmers were above 40 years, with farming as a secondary occupation for many. Participation in the rental market was notable, with 58% renting in land and 41.3% renting out. Multinomial regression results showed that education significantly reduced the likelihood of choosing ownership (p < 0.001), communal (p = 0.056), and sharecropping (p = 0.009). Farm size positively influenced selection of ownership (B = 0.81, p = 0.001) and communal (B = 1.11, p = 0.004) arrangements. Bivariate logit estimates showed land size significantly reduced the likelihood of renting in (B = -0.84, p = 0.012) but increased renting out (B = 1.02, p = 0.018). Household size increased rent-in participation (B = 0.56, p = 0.031), whereas age significantly influenced rent-out decisions (B = 0.44, p = 0.022). The significant correlation coefficient (rho = 0.411, p = 0.008) indicated interdependence between both decisions. The findings reveal a dynamic farmland market shaped by socio-economic pressures and land scarcity. Land tenure arrangements, farmers' cooperatives, and land information services need to be strengthened to improve land access and rural productivity.