2 pages., "If African farmers feel disenfranchised and marginalized, the system is not working. Now's the time to try to fix it, improve communication systems, and move towards feeding hungry people."
Hadley, Malcolm (author) and Schreckenberg, Kathrin (author)
Format:
Book chapter
Publication Date:
1995
Published:
International
Location:
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Document Number: C35813
Notes:
Pages 464-474 in D. Michael Warren, L. Jan Slikkerveer and David Brokensha (eds.), The cultural dimension of development: indigenous knowledge systems. Intermediate Technology Publications Ltd., London, England. 582 pages.
15 pages, In the past few decades, climate-smart agriculture (CSA) has been promoted to improve food security and raise incomes as a strategy for sustainable agricultural development. The adoption rates among smallholder farmers, particularly in Africa, remain low and have varied in different contexts. This study investigated the market participation spillover effects from the adoption of CSA practices in central Malawi using the control function approach to address any endogeneity in the relationship. The hypothesis that the extent of the use of CSA practices in the past 10 years can lead to production surpluses that enable smallholder farmers to participate in markets and thereby increase in agricultural incomes was tested. Using survey data from 470 households in two districts of rural Malawi, a clear positive association between the number of CSA practices used and the extent of market participation was found. The findings suggest, among others, the need to intensify efforts to promote CSA adoption specifically over a longer period for benefits of the technologies to materialise. The adoption of CSA practices over time enhances crop market participation, an important aspect required for production sustainability as well as for transforming agriculture towards greater market orientation among smallholder farmers.
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Document Number: D01200
Notes:
Pages 92-103 in Chris Reij and Ann Waters-Bayer (eds.), Farmer innovation in Africa: a source of inspiration for agricultural development. Earthscan Publications Ltd., London, England. 362 pages.