Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
and placing the displaced soil above the excavated trench. The ridge of excavated
soil acts as a barrier to silt-laden water from upslope, which results in sedimenta-
tion behind the barrier, forming a small terrace that is used for planting. The eco-
nomic costs associated with the development of this type of terrace are practically
zero. However, the labor costs associated with the implementation of this terracing
approach is high. Assuming that labor exists to do the initial excavation, many sub-
sistence farmers could implement such a terracing system over time.
Pagiola (1994) notes that one of the major factors that impeded the adoption of the
new conservation technique was the perception of return to investment of time and
labor associated with building the terraces. When it was demonstrated that risk asso-
ciated with adoption was low and the benefits high, farmers had a higher propensity
to adopt the new terracing technique. He also observed that farmers wanted infor-
mation about the risk level and the expected return to investment before they would
consider adopting the new technique. Within the Kenyan study region, communica-
tion systems were practically nonexistent and the means of providing information to
farmers was lacking. The lack of access to relevant information about the innovation
acted as a barrier to adoption. Pagiola (1994) also submits that land tenure was an
important consideration in the adoption decision-making process. If land managers
did not have property rights to the land being operated, they tended to reject the con-
servation practice being assessed because they would not benefit from investments
in building the terraces.
Giller et al. (2009) assessed the probabilities of adoption of soil and water conser-
vation production systems in Africa and suggest that most conservation production
systems will never be adopted. They assert that subsistence farmers in Africa do not
have access to technologies, and do not possess required inputs and labor to imple-
ment such production systems. They further suggest that many subsistence African
farmers adopt some components of conservation production systems but not all parts
of the production systems. This observation strongly suggests that many production
systems that are being diffused are not relevant to the needs of African farmers.
They conclude that development and diffusion of more relevant conservation sys-
tems may result in higher levels of adoption.
Research reported by Adeola (2010, 2012) strongly suggests that exposure to
information and access to technical support systems are significant in the adoption
of soil conservation practices among subsistence farmers in Africa. Perceptions of
declines in soil fertility associated with existing farm production systems and adop-
tion of seven conservation farming practices were examined using data collected
from subsistence farmers in the Ibadan/Ibarapa region of Nigeria. Study findings
revealed that level of education, contact with extension agents, farming experience,
and farm size contributed to the development of awareness of soil fertility problems
associated with erosion of farm land and the adoption of the conservation measures
assessed.
Adeloa (2010, 2012) argues that socioeconomic factors are important in the
adoption decision-making process when land operators within the study region are
considering adopting conservation production systems. He notes that exposure to
information about soil erosion and environmental degradation is useful in the devel-
opment of perceptions about declining fertility of land resources and contributes to
