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Understanding farmers’ perceptions and responses to climate change (CC) is crucial for decision-makers to design effective adaptation strategies. This study examines farmers’ perceptions of CC, their adaptation responses, and the determinants influencing their decisions on CC adaptation strategies in the Central Rift Valley of Ethiopia. Data were collected from 339 randomly selected household heads in two districts using a semi-structured questionnaire. Additionally, focus group discussions were held at each Kebele to support the findings from the quantitative survey. Farmers in the study area are aware of CC and its adverse impacts on agriculture and ecosystems. In response, they adopt various strategies, including changing planting dates, switching to short-maturing varieties, practising soil and water conservation, livestock diversification, destocking livestock, and small-scale irrigation. Results from the multivariate probit model employed indicate that the educational level of the household head, farm size, income, farm experience, livestock ownership, and membership in a farmer cooperative significantly influence farmers’ choices of adaptation strategies. The study’s findings suggest the need for substantial investment in farmer schooling, diversifying farmers’ sources of income to generate backup savings, and focusing on the start-up of local community organizations. Furthermore, there is a need to improve the capacity of farmers to adopt autonomous and policy-driven adaptation strategies.

Agricultural mechanization is one of the key components that enhance agricultural intensification. Thus, this study investigates determinants of agricultural machine renting of smallholder farmers using cross-sectional data obtained from 192 agricultural machine users and 208 non-users of agricultural machine smallholder farmers from West Gojjam zone, Ethiopia. Three districts were selected because of the presence of agricultural mechanization intervention The data were collected from 400 households selected randomly and proportionally from Wonberma, Burie Zuria, and Dembecha districts from January to April 2021 year. To describe and analyze the data descriptive statistics and econometric model were used. The descriptive statistics show among agricultural machine renting households about 25.3% households were rented tractor, 22.3% combine harvester 28.54% maize Sheller and other farmers use two or all three types of machines simultaneously. The result of multivariate probit model showed that correlation coefficient between tractor and combine harvester, tractor, and maize Sheller, and combine harvester and maize Sheller were 63.1, 48.2, and 68.6%, respectively. The positive sign indicates the adoption of one type of machine enhancing the marginal productivity of other types of machines. Adoption of agricultural machine renting were influenced by age of households, level of education, ownership of oxen, total cultivated land, extension visit, and information access from extension agent positively and significantly. On the other hand, family size, distance to development agent and distance to the nearest market were negatively and significantly affect agricultural machine renting. Based on the finding, this paper recommends that the governmental and non-governmental organization should focus on the strengthening of formal and informal education, development of infrastructures, and extension visit which promote agricultural machine renting services.

Climate-smart agricultural technologies (CSATs) are important for climate change adaptation and mitigation in developing countries. Therefore, it is crucial for farmers to have access to sustainable CSATs to cope with climate change. While coffee is an important commercial crop in Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), farmers suffer from coffee fluctuation in production attributed to climate variability. Accordingly, various coffee-related CSATs, notably coffee cultivars, manure and intercropping have been introduced in Kalehe Territory of the DRC to build climate resilience and adapt to changing environmental conditions. However, coffee cultivars are not widely used. This study fitted a two-step Heckman model to correct for selection bias on a randomly selected cross-sectional sample of 442 smallholder coffee farmers to examine the drivers of CSATs uptake in Kalehe Territory. The model results showed that family labour, non-farm income, access to credit and extension services, and residing in Butumba Village were the major factors influencing the decision of coffee farmers to use CSATs. The results revealed that manure and new coffee cultivars, manure and intercropping combined with manure had the potential to be substitutes for each other. The study recommends that policy makers and other stakeholders in CSATs support the dissemination of CSATs, especially coffee cultivars, to facilitate access. There is need to promote extension services so that the combination of intercropping and manure can help to increase coffee farmers’ welfare. The government should support farmers’ use of CSATs through either the subsidization of coffee cultivars or the provision of cheap agricultural credit.

AbstractFood-borne diseases remain a pressing global health issue, particularly in developing countries. Inadequate knowledge and low adoption of food safety practices among beef sellers lead to cross-contamination of raw beef, significantly contributing to the occurrence of beef-borne diseases. To effectively address this problem, it is crucial to prioritize the development of perception and adoption of food safety practices among beef sellers and consumers. Therefore, this paper examines perception and adoption of food safety practices using data from 820 beef sellers and 562 beef consumers in Ghana. We found positive perceptions with beef consumers and sellers about food safety practices. Additionally, the adoption of food safety practices by beef sellers was influenced by gender, age, educational level, income, credit access, engaged in other economic activity and membership of association. To ensure sustainable and healthy beef processing, consumption and marketing, enforcement of periodic medical examinations and hygienic selling environments should be considered. Policies for strengthening credit access capacity to drive the adherence to safety practices should be geared towards sellers in the beef industry.

AbstractChickpea is a popular food in Ethiopia and is an important source of income for many smallholder farmers. In order to promote chickpea cultivation and make it more economically viable, it is necessary to determine which markets are most suitable. Among the econometric models, the multivariate probit model is appropriate and was used to study the determinants affecting the choice of outlets for chickpea in the district. The model found that wholesalers and retailers (61% and 18% of total buyers, respectively) were the most likely to purchase chickpeas. Collectors (25% of buyers) and consumers (35% of buyers) are also important, but are less likely to succeed compared to the other market participants. Based on these results, the government and other stakeholders need to focus on developing infrastructure and improving access to credit to help farmers decide which market to target and choose the best one.

AbstractBamboo meets a growing and various bamboo product demands and generates revenue. The study aimed to analyze the factors that affect the choice of alternative bamboo market outlets. By using two stages sampling procedures, 114 bamboo producers were randomly and proportionally selected. The determinants that affect the choice of bamboo market outlets were analyzed by multivariate probit (MVP) model. Based on the model result, the probability of bamboo producers to select wholesalers, retailers, processors and local traders outlet were 16.8%, 46.2%, 60.8% and 54.3%, respectively. The probability of success and failure to select four market outlets were 2.5% and 2.2%, respectively. The result of MVP revealed that family size, total land holding size, amount of culm production, farming experience, distance to the market and silviculture management practice affect the probability of farmers market outlet choice. Therefore, this study gives an emphasis to the analysis of bamboo market outlets for bamboo culm producers to increase the market return for producers.

The determinants of agricultural extension communication channel usage depend on several factors but have not been explored in the context of emergency (Fall Armyworm outbreak) and non-emergency situations. A multistage purposive sampling technique was used to select 318 farmers, focusing on the districts and the communities with the highest reported cases of fall armyworm infestation. Descriptive statistics and a multivariate probit analysis were used in the analysis of the data. The results showed an increase in the intensity of channels’ usage in the emergency situation. It was also found that fertilizer and improved seeds were the most common extension need. Channels are found to be more complementary in the emergency case. In both situations, some factors explaining the choices of these channels varied, while others agreed. The study recommends multiple channels are made available and that time-consuming channels irrespective of their effectiveness should be avoided by extensionists in emergency situations.

Sustainable Agricultural Practices (SAPs) have been promoted over the years as a means of ensuring sustainable development in the agricultural sector. However, adoption has generally been low across countries. This paper explores the linkages among SAPs and adoption decisions of SAPs among smallholder maize farm households in Ghana. The study used a household-level data on 394 farmers collected by the second round of the intensification of food crops agriculture in sub-Saharan Africa (AFRINT II) in Ghana. We employed a multivariate regression model to investigate the complementarity and the substitutability among the selected elements of SAPs as well as the simultaneous determinants of the SAPs components. We found out that some elements of the SAPs are complementary, while others are substitutes. The results also suggest that access to input credit, membership of farmer-based organizations, extension contact, and formal education, as well as intercropping, lead to the adoption of SAPs. The study recommends that SAP programmes that support the application of one technology (e.g., inorganic fertilizer) must provide simultaneous support for intercropping with nitrogen-fixing plants. Also, investment in public education is crucial in boosting farmers’ knowledge of agricultural practices. Lastly, the positive and significant policy variables such as FBO suggest that focusing on strengthening community social network institutions is one other way of improving adoption decisions of SAPs.

Sustainable Agricultural Practices (SAPs) have been promoted over the years as a means of ensuring sustainable development in the agricultural sector. However, adoption has generally been low across countries. This paper explores the linkages among SAPs and adoption decisions of SAPs among smallholder maize farm households in Ghana. The study used a household-level data on 394 farmers collected by the second round of the intensification of food crops agriculture in sub-Saharan Africa (AFRINT II) in Ghana. We employed a multivariate regression model to investigate the complementarity and the substitutability among the selected elements of SAPs as well as the simultaneous determinants of the SAPs components. We found out that some elements of the SAPs are complementary, while others are substitutes. The results also suggest that access to input credit, membership of farmer-based organizations, extension contact, and formal education, as well as intercropping, lead to the adoption of SAPs. The study recommends that SAP programmes that support the application of one technology (e.g., inorganic fertilizer) must provide simultaneous support for intercropping with nitrogen-fixing plants. Also, investment in public education is crucial in boosting farmers' knowledge of agricultural practices. Lastly, the positive and significant policy variables such as FBO suggest that focusing on strengthening community social network institutions is one other way of improving adoption decisions of SAPs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The determinants of agricultural extension communication channel usage depend on several factors but have not been explored in the context of emergency (Fall Armyworm outbreak) and non-emergency situations. A multistage purposive sampling technique was used to select 318 farmers, focusing on the districts and the communities with the highest reported cases of fall armyworm infestation. Descriptive statistics and a multivariate probit analysis were used in the analysis of the data. The results showed an increase in the intensity of channels' usage in the emergency situation. It was also found that fertilizer and improved seeds were the most common extension need. Channels are found to be more complementary in the emergency case. In both situations, some factors explaining the choices of these channels varied, while others agreed. The study recommends multiple channels are made available and that time-consuming channels irrespective of their effectiveness should be avoided by extensionists in emergency situations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]