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Livestock, particularly cattle, are an integral part of livelihoods in rural sub-Saharan Africa. However, diseases such as African animal trypanosomosis (AAT) have limited the potential of this important sector in the rural household economy. Using a representative sample of small-scale cattle farmers, this study investigates the adoption of modern AAT-management technologies in rural Ethiopia. Specifically, this study investigates the adoption of so-called 'best-bet technologies' (BBTs), recommended by veterinary experts as complementary measures to manage AAT. The results show that the multiple adoption of BBTs was low. In addition, BBTs were adopted as substitutes, and not as complements as suggested by veterinary experts. The results suggest budgetary constraints are proxied by wealth, and information asymmetry explains the substitution effects. The training and reeducation of veterinary personnel, as well as programmes and interventions that would improve access to livestock-management inputs, should be pursued vigorously by policy makers to increase the adoption of modern AAT-management technologies to improve cattle productiviy.. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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]

When previous studies relate innovation behaviours to firm heterogeneity, they consider mainly product and process innovations. In this paper, we consider a wider range of types of innovation that firms could combine to form different innovation strategies. Using the multivariate probit model, we analyze the selection of heterogeneous firms into different innovation strategies. This model allows the joint modelling of the correlated innovation choices and, in addition, dispels any judgemental prescription of firms' innovation behaviours. In the work, we contribute to the debate on the complementarity/substitutability relationships between types of innovation. Our results show that different characteristics of the firm influence the innovation strategies of the firm and that firms prefer to complement innovations rather than substitute them, but heterogeneities were observed. We recommend the inclusion of all innovation types available to the firm in the analysis of firms' innovation behaviours in order to obtain a complete description. Furthermore, as our sample covers 13 countries in sub-Saharan Africa, we are the first to provide a snapshot of innovation behaviours of firms operating in Africa and, in addition, show that there are no inter-country differences in innovation tendencies of firms in the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change poses significant challenges to agriculture, with serious impacts on smallholder farmers' food security and livelihoods. Climate-smart agriculture (CSA) is being promoted to facilitate climate change adaptation and mitigation. While there is evidence that CSA supports smallholders' adaption to climate change, the rate of CSA adoption remains low, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa. Previous studies have explained the low adoption based on generic factors such as farm, farmer, institutional and location characteristics, yet little is known about the role of farmers' cognitive traits. This study investigates the influence of farmer entrepreneurial orientation, a cognitive trait reflecting a farmer's innovativeness, proactiveness and propensity to take risks. We use data from smallholder potato farmers in Kenya and estimate a set of multivariate probit models to analyse the adoption decisions. Results show that risk-taking positively influences the adoption of irrigation, changing cultivation calendar, use of certified seed, crop rotation and soil testing. Proactiveness is positively related to the use of irrigation, changing the cultivation calendar and use of certified seed, while it is negatively related to intercropping. Contrary to our hypothesis that innovative farmers are more likely to adopt CSA practices, we find a negative relation between innovativeness and the use of certified seed. After categorizing CSA practices based on the main resources required, we find that risk-taking is positively associated with the adoption of practices that require high intensity of skilled labour and financial resources. Innovativeness is negatively associated with practices that require high intensity of financial resources. Lastly, we find proactiveness to be positively associated with the adoption of finance-intensive practices but negatively associated with unskilled-labour-intensive practices. These findings imply, first, that development practitioners should consider the interrelations among CSA practices and farmer entrepreneurial orientation in designing development interventions. Second, policy-makers need to create an environment conducive to farmer entrepreneurship as an indirect way to support the adoption of appropriate CSA practices. • Farmer entrepreneurship plays an important role in influencing the adoption decisions of smallholders. • We study the determinants of innovation adoption beyond the generic characteristics by exploring the role of farmer EO. • Focusing on the intensity of resources required to adopt CSA practices provide more insights on the adoption decisions. • There is need for targeted entrepreneurship training programs to influence smallholder farmers' adoption decisions. • There is need to extend CSA intervention programs beyond the traditional staple crops in sub-Saharan Africa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]