Jun 2026· Discover Environment· Vol 4· 0 citations· 95 references
Abstract
Land degradation threatens food security in developing countries, yet smallholder farmers’ adoption of sustainable land management practices (SLMPs) remains low. Thus, this study examined the key factors influencing farmers’ adoption and selection of SLMPs. The main objective of this study was to identify the factors that influence the implementation of sustainable land management practices and the choice of practices. Both primary and secondary data sources were used and a detailed survey data were collected from 310 randomly sampled households in two rural Kebeles in the study area. Both descriptive analysis and econometric models were used to analyze the data. The descriptive analysis results indicated that approximately 149 (48.06%) households were adopters of SLMP practices, and the remaining 161 (51.94%) households were non-adopters. A binary logit regression model revealed that the education level, the total number of livestock owned, farmland plot ownership, total farmland size, and farmers' perception on their farm plot slope were significant determinants of the SLMP adoption. The multivariate probit model (MVP) results indicate that the probability of choosing agronomic SLMPs (81.8%) is much higher than the probability of selecting biological SLMPs (55.2%), physical SLMPs (33.1%), and mixed or more than one SLMP (42.6%). Also the joint probabilities of success (15.15%) or failure (5.65%) of choosing the four SLMPs shows households were more likely to succeed in jointly choosing the four SLMPs. The finding showed that age, education level, access to extension service, off-farm activities, family size, livestock ownership, plot ownership, access to credit and perception of farmers on the slope of the plot and soil fertility significantly affects SLMP choice at different levels of significance. Therefore, the study concluded that there is a need to focus on smallholder farmers' demographic and socioeconomic characteristics, and plot-related significant variables to address the problem of SLM practices.
Soil erosion continues to undermine the agricultural productivity and rural livelihoods in the Ethiopian highlands, yet the determinants of sustained adoption of soil and water conservation (SWC) practices remain insufficiently understood. This study analyzed the intensity and determinants of farmers’ adoption of SWC practices in the Golina watershed of Northeastern Ethiopia. A cross-sectional survey of 364 households was conducted using a three-stage sampling technique, complemented by field observations, focus group discussions, and key informant interviews. Descriptive statistics and a Poisson regression model were employed to examine factors influencing the number of SWC practices adopted per household. The results show that 99.2% of farmers had previously participated in SWC activities, while 66.8% were currently maintaining at least one SWC practice. Contour farming (100% in Woleh; 95.7% in Wofela) and soil bunds (90.4% in Wondie Ashewa) were the most widely adopted measures. The regression analysis indicated that farming experience, total income, membership in local organizations, land slope, knowledge of SWC, and positive perception of SWC benefits significantly increased adoption intensity, while greater land distance and better land quality reduced it. Overall, adoption intensity is strongly shaped by socioeconomic conditions, institutional engagement, land characteristics, and farmers’ perceptions. The findings highlight the need to strengthen knowledge dissemination, enhance community-based institutions, and promote context-specific interventions to improve the sustainability and intensity of SWC adoption for sustainable land management and rural livelihood improvement.
Aims: This study assessed the effectiveness of soil conservation practices (SCPs) in controlling soil erosion and examined their contribution to sustainable crop production, using the Food Basket Sites (FoBaSi) programme of Ngororero District, Rwanda, as a case study.
Study Design: A cross-sectional, descriptive-explanatory research design combining quantitative and qualitative methods was adopted.
Place and Duration of Study: The study was conducted between 2025 and 2026 across 50 Food Basket Sites in the 13 sectors of Ngororero District, an East African highland agricultural landscape in Western Province, Rwanda.
Methodology: Cross-sectional mixed-methods was employed for the study of 367 farming households (Yamane's formula, stratified sampling) plus 39 key informants across Ngororero District. Data came from household surveys, field observations, interviews, and secondary records. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, correlation, and multiple regression in SPSS; qualitative data were analyzed thematically.
Results: Radical terracing (85%) and progressive terracing (78%) were the most widely adopted SCPs, whereas cover cropping (45%) and water harvesting (40%) showed relatively low adoption. Indicators of soil erosion remained prevalent, including bare soil patches (70%), rills (65%), and gullies (40%), suggesting inadequate maintenance and limited integration of biological conservation measures. Soil conservation practices were significantly and positively associated with crop yield, yield stability, land productivity, and household food security (p < 0.01). Multiple regression analysis showed that terracing, agroforestry, mulching, and cover cropping explained 68% of the variation in sustainable crop production (R = 0.825, R² = 0.680, Adjusted R² = 0.676; F (4,362) = 45.2, p < 0.001), with terracing (β = 0.45) and agroforestry (β = 0.35) being the strongest predictors. Furthermore, 80% of farmers reported increased and more stable crop yields, 65% reported higher farm income, and 74.1% perceived improved resilience to climate variability.
Conclusion: Integrated implementation of structural and biological soil conservation practices significantly enhances sustainable crop production despite persistent erosion challenges. Strengthening maintenance, expanding biological conservation measures, and improving extension support and financial access are essential to increase agricultural productivity and climate resilience in Rwanda's highland Food Basket Sites.
Azalie Bazambanza, E. Sibomana· International Journal of Pla...· 0 citations
This study investigates the extent and determinants of livelihood diversification among integrated crop- livestock farming households in North-West Nigeria. The study aimed at assessing the integrated crop- livestock farming practices and analyse the factors influencing the livelihood activities of the farmers in the study area. The study used a multistage sampling procedure consisting of 3 states, 3 agricultural zones, 21 LGAs and 84 villages. Data were collected from 405 respondents through structured questionnaires andanalysed using descriptive statistics, the Simpson Diversification Index (SDI) and Tobit regression. Findings revealed a moderate level of livelihood diversification, with an average SDI of 0.58. Farmers engaged in diverse on-farm, off-farm, and non-farm income-generating activities, with on-farm income accounting for 66.66% of the total annual household income, followed by non-farm (23.57%) and off-farm (9.77%) sources. Tobit regression results showed that household size, gender of the household head, and access to credit were significant at the 5% level, respectively while education level and income from various sources were significant at the 1% level, all positively influencing livelihood diversification. Conversely, farm size had a negative and significant relationship, suggesting that larger farms often reduce the likelihood of engaging in alternative livelihood strategies. The study concludes that diversification is a critical strategy for income stability and risk management among smallholders. It recommends enhancing access to credit, promotingrural farmer education and improving rural infrastructure to sustain and expand livelihood diversification.
M. Abdullahi, M. Sulaiman· Agro-Science· 0 citations
Soil degradation remains to be a substantial issue for subsistence agriculture in Ethiopia, particularly in higher and sloped areas where land burden and poor farming methods intensify soil destruction and nutrient loss. Though Soil and water conservation approaches were developed to tackle this issue, their success eventually trusts on farmers' views and readiness to implement them. Yet, there is a lack of empirical evidence connecting farmers' perceptions with adoption choices in different agro ecological and socioeconomic settings in South Ethiopian Rift Valley. This study is aimed at examining the perceptions of small-scale farmers towards soil degradation and identifying the most important socio-demographic, institutional, psychological, and physical determinants behind the adoption of soil and water conservation (SWC) technologies in the Shafe catchment area. A mixed method approach was employed where the data collection involved household survey from 185 households selected randomly in three kebeles combined with focus group discussion and key informant interviews. Farmers' attitudes and adoption behaviors were examined using descriptive statistics while multiple logistic regression analysis revealed the determinants causing disturbance of adoption of selected SWC technologies. It is found that agro-ecology plays a critical role in the adoption process, with households living in lowlands or kolla areas being more willing to adopt certain SWC practices such as avoidance of up and down ploughing and fallowing. Institutional factors, particularly the availability of training opportunities, played a positive role in adoption of SWC technologies. Other household characteristics, such as larger household sizes, participation in other economic activities apart from farming, for example, weaving, and larger sizes of homesteads were found to be significant drivers of the uptake of labor intensive SWC measures. The study indicates that efforts aimed at increasing the perception levels of farmers through training and extension are fundamental for increasing SWC uptake. There is an urgent need by regional, district agricultural offices, extension organizations, local authorities and development partners to increase and intensify their extension programs for households practicing agriculture on steep slopes and distant lands with high risk of land degradation. The priority is to improve the access of farmers to extension, technical training and supervision. It is urgent for intervention measures to be taken to enhance SWC adoption in Shafe catchment and similar agro ecological zones.
Keywords: Adoption; Perception; Shafe catchment; Soil and water conservation; South Ethiopian rift valley
Alene Abeje Aba, Dereje Tsegaye, Teshome Yirgu Bayu· Omo International Journal of...· 0 citations
This study examined the sustainable farming practices of small sugarcane farmers in a first-class municipality in Central Visayas, focusing on environmental, economic, and social sustainability. It aimed to determine the level of these practices and to identify differences among farmers grouped according to selected profile variables. The findings revealed that farmers demonstrated high levels of environmental and economic sustainability, and a very high level of social sustainability. Fertilizer management and cost reduction were widely practiced, while water management and cooperative participation were less so. No significant differences in sustainability practices were found across age and years in farming; however, farm size significantly influenced environmental and social sustainability practices. The study concluded that sustainable practices were generally well observed among farmers, but certain areas required improvement, particularly in resource management and collective participation. The results highlighted that sustainability is influenced more by access to resources and institutional support than by demographic factors. The study contributes to the field of agribusiness and sustainable agriculture by providing empirical evidence on the current practices of small sugarcane farmers and offering a basis for developing targeted interventions to enhance sustainability in the sector.
Keywords: Small-scale agriculture, sugarcane farmers, sustainable farming
Maribel D. Grijaldo· GEO ACADEMIC JOURNAL· 0 citations
The present study was undertaken to analyse the factors influencing farmers’ purchase decisions and the problems faced in the purchase of farm implements in the Kachchh district of Gujarat. A descriptive research design was adopted, and primary data were collected from 200 tractor-owning farmers selected purposively from 20 villages across Anjar, Bhuj, Bhachau, and Mundra talukas from December 2025 to March 2026. Secondary data were obtained from published reports and official sources. Percentage and tabular analyses were employed to examine the socio-economic characteristics of farmers and the ownership pattern of tractors and farm implements, while the Weighted Average Mean (WAM) technique was used to identify key purchase factors, influential promotional tools and major constraints. The findings revealed that the majority of farmers were middle-aged, belonged to small and marginal farm categories and possessed moderate levels of income. Ownership of farm implements was largely concentrated in primary and secondary tillage implements. Price/affordability, durability and field performance emerged as the most critical purchase attributes, while field demonstrations, word of mouth and dealer recommendations were the most effective promotional tools. High initial cost, lack of finance and high repair and operating costs were the most severe constraints. The study concludes that improving access to institutional credit, strengthening after-sales support services and promoting demonstration-based extension activities can facilitate wider adoption of farm implements and enhance the level of farm mechanisation in the region.
Dilip M. Dhila, D. Vahoniya, B. Bagda· Journal of Experimental Agri...· 0 citations
