Assessing the Potential Impact of Integrated Agricultural Research for Development (IAR4D) on Adoption of Improved Cereal-Legume Crop Varieties in the Sudan Savannah Zone of Nigeria

Binam, Joachim; Abdoulaye, Tahirou; Olarinde, Luke O.; Kamara, Alpha Y.; Adekunle, Adewale

doi:10.1080/10496505.2011.563233

Cited by 17 publications

(17 citation statements)

References 21 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…A counter factual site is a site similar to the intervention (treatment) in agroecological and market conditions but did not receive a treatment (Binam et al, 2011). The 127 sampled households in the counterfactual site were randomly sampled from 6 wards that did not participate in the project.…”

Section: Sampling and Data Analysismentioning

confidence: 99%

Determinants of soybean market participation by smallholder farmers in Zimbabwe

Zamasiya¹,

Mango²,

Nyikahadzoi³

et al. 2014

J. Dev. Agric. Econ.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

This article examines the determinants of soybean market participation by smallholder farmers in Zimbabwe, with a view to identifying key policy entry points for increasing farmer incomes. Market linkages have been identified as key to the successful integration of grain legumes into the smallholder farming systems of southern Africa. Data for this article is derived from a baseline household survey in Guruve district of Zimbabwe. Using a sample of 187 smallholder farmers, we employed the Heckman's Probit model with sample selection to firstly, identify the factors affecting a farmer's decision to participate in soybean markets and secondly, evaluate the factors that affect the intensity of a farmer's participation. Study findings show that the use of inoculants and improved soybean seed varieties are significantly correlated with participating in soybean markets. Results also show that ownership of radios has a positive effect on the household's decision to participate in the soybean market. Further results show that male-headed households are less likely than female-headed households to participate in soybean markets because legumes are seen as women's crops in Zimbabwe. We conclude that in order to leverage smallholder farmers' market participation in soybean markets, it is important to improve access to inoculants and improved soybean seed varieties and improving access to market information. We recommend that authorities could improve access to market information to improve farmers' decision making on soybeans market participation.

show abstract

Section: Sampling and Data Analysismentioning

confidence: 99%

Determinants of soybean market participation by smallholder farmers in Zimbabwe

Zamasiya¹,

Mango²,

Nyikahadzoi³

et al. 2014

J. Dev. Agric. Econ.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…This involves experimental districts, which receives the treatment, and a control group, which do not receive treatment. Randomization under ideal conditions allows mean program impact to be assessed through simple comparisons of outcomes for treated and control groups [32]. The districts were stratified on the basis of market access and agro-climatic potential.…”

Section: Sample Populationmentioning

confidence: 99%

The impact of adoption of conservation agriculture on smallholder farmers’ food security in semi-arid zones of southern Africa

Mango¹,

Siziba

Makate³

2017

Agric & Food Secur

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Background:In southern Africa, conservation agriculture (CA) has received a lot of research and promotional support from various organizations in the past decades. Conservation agriculture is largely promoted as one of the few win-win technologies affordable to farmers, in the sense that potentially it improves farmers' yields (in the long term) at the same time conserving the environment. This is because conservation agriculture reduces nitrogen loss in the soil, promotes water and soil conservation and improves agronomic use efficiency of applied nutrients. However, some concerns have been raised over the feasibility of conservation agriculture on smallholder farms given constraints imposed by the biophysical and institutional realities under which smallholder farmers operate. The main aim of this study is to answer the question whether conservation agriculture is resulting in tangible livelihood outcomes to smallholder farmers. The counterfactual outcome approach was used to estimate ex post impact of conservation agriculture adoption on one of the key livelihood outcomes-food security. Results:The study that utilized a data set covering 1623 households in Zimbabwe, Malawi and Mozambique found no significant impact of conservation agriculture adoption on Food Consumption Score of farmers in Zimbabwe and Malawi. Possible reasons for the insignificant of CA impact on food security in Zimbabwe and Malawi could include the small land areas currently devoted to CA, and the failure to implement the full complement of practices necessary to set off the biophysical process that are expected to drive yield increases. In Mozambique, conservation agriculture significantly improved the Food Consumption Score for farmers exposed to the technology. A possible reason for effectiveness of CA in Mozambique could be due to the fact that often CA is being promoted together with other better cropping management practices such as timely weeding and improved seed varieties, which are poorly practiced by the generality of farmers in a country just emerging from a war period. Conclusion:This paper provides one of the few ex post assessments of the impact of conservation agriculture adoption on household livelihood outcomes-food security. Given the mixed findings, the study suggests that conservation agriculture farmers in the three countries need to be supported to adopt a value chain approach to conservation agriculture. This entails the introduction of commercial or high-value crops in the conservation agriculture programmes, value addition on farmers produce, access to the necessary support services such as markets for seed, fertilizer, herbicides and equipment as well as reliable extension. We believe that under such circumstances conservation agriculture can effectively reduce food insecurity and poverty in the medium to long term.

show abstract

“…The IAR4D approach uses innovation platforms (IPs) to surround agricultural research and development organisations in a network to embark on multi-disciplinary and participatory research [5]. The IAR4D approach has been proven to have significant impacts on livelihoods [1,6,7]. This paper seeks to investigate how achievements from IAR4D (through participation in IP activities) accrue to smallholder farming households of diverse socioeconomic status.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Diversity amongst farm households and achievements from multi-stakeholder innovation platform approach: lessons from Balaka Malawi

Makate¹,

Mango²

2017

Agric & Food Secur

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Background: Understanding diversity of smallholder farm households is of critical importance for the success of development interventions. Farming households often will devise livelihood strategies that provide the best guarantee for survival and based on their socioeconomic vulnerability. This study examines how achievements from the Integrated Agricultural Research for Development (IAR4D) approach through participation in innovation platform activities accrue to smallholder farming households of diverse socioeconomic status. The study is based on a representative sample of smallholder farmers from Balaka innovation platform found in Balaka district of Malawi. Balaka innovation platform was formed in 2009 with the aim of addressing key farmer problems of low crop productivity, lack of input and output markets, limited access to agricultural credit, low incomes and poverty in general. Through multi-stakeholder dialogue, the platform proposed activities meant to improve livelihoods of participants. Some of the activities include conservation agriculture adoption, crop diversification, improved communication through the platform, linking farmers to microfinance institutions and markets, collective market participation, joining farmer groups organised by the platform and various other activities. The main aim was to improve crop productivity, household incomes and food security. Results:A multivariate study that combines principal component analysis for essential data reduction and cluster analysis to classify typical farm households based on their socioeconomic characteristics and reported achievements from innovation platform activities was used. It is evident from the results that achievements from innovation platform activities are not uniform across farmer groups of different socioeconomic status. Conclusions:The upshots call for segregated approaches in promoting adoption of various livelihood improving activities, technologies and approaches through the innovation platform approach in smallholder farming areas such as the ones in Balaka, Malawi. Tactics selected by development partners to fight against smallholder farmer problems of low productivity low incomes and food insecurity should conform to farmer socioeconomic vulnerability for greater success.

show abstract

Assessing the Potential Impact of Integrated Agricultural Research for Development (IAR4D) on Adoption of Improved Cereal-Legume Crop Varieties in the Sudan Savannah Zone of Nigeria

Cited by 17 publications

References 21 publications

Determinants of soybean market participation by smallholder farmers in Zimbabwe

Determinants of soybean market participation by smallholder farmers in Zimbabwe

The impact of adoption of conservation agriculture on smallholder farmers’ food security in semi-arid zones of southern Africa

Diversity amongst farm households and achievements from multi-stakeholder innovation platform approach: lessons from Balaka Malawi

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About