Factors affecting smallholder farmers’ adoption of integrated soil fertility and water management practices in Machakos county

Abstract

Natural resource degradation and water scarcity are a global concern that threatens sustainability of smallholder farmers’ livelihoods in arid and semi-arid lands (ASALs). In ASALs, low adoption of Integrated Soil Fertility and Water Management (ISFWM) technologies has contributed to food and nutrition insecurity. A study was carried out to assess factors influencing smallholder farmers’ adoption decision of ISFWM technologies in Mwala and Yatta Sub-Counties. A questionnaire was administered to 248 household heads in the study region. Relationships between different variables were determined by the Tobit model and logistic regression models. Results revealed that age, gender, group membership, access to agricultural extension services and inaccessible credit influenced ISFWM adoption significantly (p<0.05). Cost of inputs, access to radio information, cost of labor, access to appropriate farm machines, input-output markets and farmers’ perception on seasons’ reliability affected adoption of ISFWM practices highly significantly (p<0.01). Results on logistic model indicated that age between 46-55years was important since it affected the use of tied ridges, organic fertilizers and improved seeds highly significant (P<0.01) as well as secondary education which influenced use of both fertilizers highly significantly. Farmers’ perception on expected yield of maize and the results predicted by APSIM model clearly showed that farmers’ adopting open ridges expected higher maize yields compared to what the APSIM model had predicted which gave an insight why most farmers’ were adopting open ridges rather than tied ridges and or zai pits. The Cost-Benefit Analysis revealed that zai pit had the highest CBR among the ISFWM structures practiced in LM AEZ 4 and 5 reporting CBR of 6.98 and 5.63 in LM AEZ 4 and 5 respectively followed by tied ridges which indicated a CBR of 5.29 in LM AEZ 4 and 5.14 in LM AEZ 5 respectively. Majority of the respondents (93.9%) in the project areas were adopting a combination of tied ridges, organic fertilizer and improved seed compared to only 6.1% in the non-project area. There was also significantly (p<0.01) higher adoption (76.5%) of a combination of tied ridges, both fertilizer and improved seed in the project area in contrast to 23.5% in non-project area, as well as those adopting a combination of zai pit, both fertilizer and improved seed which indicated 80% compared to only 20% in non-project area. Policy makers should focus on availability of affordable credit services and farm machines; ease access to: information, labor and input-output market infrastructure for enhanced farm productivity. When this happens, farm productivity will be boosted with consequent improved food and nutrition security for enhanced livelihoods of the smallholder farmers’ in ASALs.