Adoption and Utilization of Organic Farming Practices on Cabbage Production Among Small Scale Farmers in Sheema Municipality

Abstract

The study focused on assessing the adoption and utilization of organic farming practices on cabbage production among farmers in Sheema Municipality. It specifically looked at; finding out the existing organic farming practices on cabbage production, factors influencing the adoption of organic farming practices on cabbage production among smallholder farmers and suggesting the possible ways of motivating smallholder farmers to increase the adoption of organic farming practices in cabbage growing. The study employed a cross-sectional research design and primary data was collected from 322 respondents. The study used questionnaire and interview guide to collect data. The data was analysed using SPSS version 22.0. The study concluded that there were major existing organic farming practices on cabbage production among farmers. Such as; crop rotation, mulching, cultural weed control and intercropping respectively, use of crop residues and organic fertilizer application. The study also concluded that there were significant factors influencing the adoption of organic farming practices on cabbage production among smallholder farmers which included; land ownership at (p=.002), knowledge on use of organic farming practices (p=.029), limited off and on-farm income (p=.003) extension training services (p=.025) and availability of credit services (p=.024). The study concluded that there were significant and non-significant possible ways of motivating smallholder farmers to increase the adoption of organic farming practices which included; awareness campaigns and emphasis on training workshops on use of organic farming practices was significant at (p=.002), increasing easy access to credit to famers at low interest rate was also significant at (p=.005), subsidization of organic farming materials at a least cost by government was also significant at (p=.001), Capacitating the national extension systems to respond to organic agriculture needs was significant at (p=.000) and non-significant ones were; encouraging collaboration between farmers and trading institutions at (p=.144) trading and marketing organic agriculture products at (p=.590) and establishment of market infrastructures for organic products at (p=.199). The study recommends that; there is a need to develop a cadre of trained and certified organic agriculture professionals to support move towards use of organic farming practices, there is a need to ensure constant extension trainings on organic farming to cabbage farmers to enhance adequate knowledge that would change their negative attitude and perception towards use of organic farming practices and there is a need for credit institutions to lower their interest rate under the government policy to allow most cabbage farmers access credit.