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2. Challenges experienced by aquaponic hobbyists, producers, and educators
- Collection:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center (ACDC)
- Contributers:
- Pattillo, D Allen (author), Cline, David J. (author), Hager, Janelle V. (author), Roy, Luke A. (author), and Hanson, Terrill R. (author)
- Format:
- Journal Article
- Publication Date:
- 2022-12-19
- Published:
- United States: Clemson University Press
- Location:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 206 Document Number: D12794
- Journal Title:
- Journal of Extension
- Journal Title Details:
- V. 60, N. 4
- Notes:
- 14pgs, We used an online survey to document challenges experienced by aquaponic hobbyists (n = 81), producers (n = 117), and educators (n = 75). Responses were distilled into the following categories: 1) operations and management; 2) facilities, location, and system design; 3) knowledge and educational resources; 4) funding; 5) economic viability; 6) plant culture; 7) marketing and distribution; 8) fish culture; 9) human factors; 10) regulations and certifications. Training and research in these areas are needed to advance the aquaponics industry.
3. Facilitators and barriers to farmers’ market use in a rural area
- Collection:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center (ACDC)
- Contributers:
- Jarvandi, Soghra (author), Johnson, Kristen (author), and Franck, Karen (author)
- Format:
- Journal Article
- Publication Date:
- 2022-06-16
- Published:
- United States: Clemson University Press
- Location:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 205 Document Number: D12614
- Journal Title:
- Journal of Extension
- Journal Title Details:
- V. 60 Iss. 2
- Notes:
- 7 pgs, Farmers’ markets may improve access to healthful foods in rural areas. Our objective was to identify facilitators and barriers to farmers’ market use in a rural county. We collected data via surveys, focus group sessions, and key informant interviews. Study participants identified the two existing farmers’ markets as community assets. Barriers to use farmers’ markets included inconvenient market hours, not accepting nutrition assistance program benefits, limited transportation, and limited variety. Interventions to improve food access should include ways to meet the needs of specific populations such as low-income residents and residents living in outlying areas without farmers’ markets.
4. Extension and tourism: previous efforts, current trends, and the future
- Collection:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center (ACDC)
- Contributers:
- Arbogast, Doug (author), Eades, Daniel (author), Goetz, Stephan (author), and Pan, Yuxuan (author)
- Format:
- Journal article
- Publication Date:
- 2022-05-09
- Published:
- United States: Clemson University Press
- Location:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 205 Document Number: D12595
- Journal Title:
- Journal of Extension
- Journal Title Details:
- Vol. 60, Iss. 2
- Notes:
- 12pgs, This study highlights the results of a national survey of Extension land-grant and sea grant professionals designed to better understand their involvement in state/regional tourism programming and their perceptions of tourism related opportunities and challenges. This study demonstrates the breadth and importance of Extension’s tourism programing and continued challenges including limited investment and commitment by state institutions and the larger CES for core tourism program offerings. Investments in tourism programing are recommended as a way for Extension to maintain its relevancy, and better engage and address the community and economic development needs of traditional and emerging audiences.
5. Delivering too much, too little or off target—possible consequences of differences in perceptions on agricultural advisory services
- Collection:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center (ACDC)
- Contributers:
- Kraft, Jannica (author), Hockert, Jenny (author), Ljung, Magnus (author), Lundberg, Sara (author), and Lunner Kolstrup, Christina (author)
- Format:
- Journal article
- Publication Date:
- 2022-04-01
- Published:
- United States: Springer Link
- Location:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 204 Document Number: D12495
- Journal Title:
- Agriculture and Human Values
- Journal Title Details:
- 39
- Notes:
- 15 pages, Advisory services are considered to play an important role in the development of competitiveness and sustainability in agriculture. Advisory services have been studied at policy level, structural level and within case studies, but there is still restricted knowledge about advisors’ and farmers’ view on advisory services in general. This paper presents the views of Swedish advisors and farmers on advisory services. In a survey-based study, perceptions of farm advisors and full-time farmers in commercial Swedish agriculture on advisory services were identified and statistically analysed, comparing differences between and within the groups. The results are structured around three main themes; motives for a farmer using or not using advisory services, preferred approach by the advisor and future demands on advisory services and their importance today. Possible consequences of differences in perceptions for on-farm service delivery were assessed. Similarities in perceptions on advisory services among advisors and farmers, were found in areas characterised by well-defined questions or production-related issues. Significant differences in perceptions of advisors and farmers emerged in less concrete areas and on topics connected to change, management and strategy. Consequences of discrepancies in perceptions are that advisors may deliver too much, too little or off target, especially when expectations on advisory services are not clearly expressed. A strong and proactive back-office supporting the advisors is needed to prevent these possible consequences.
6. Science communication challenges about antimicrobial resistance in animal agriculture: insights from stakeholders
- Collection:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center (ACDC)
- Contributers:
- King, Andy J (author), Wald, Dara M (author), Coberley, Denise D (author), Dahlstrom, Michael F (author), and Plummer, Paul J (author)
- Format:
- Journal Article
- Publication Date:
- 2022-04
- Published:
- England: British Society for Antimicrobial Chemotherapy
- Location:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 205 Document Number: D12710
- Journal Title:
- JAC-Antimicrobial Resistance
- Journal Title Details:
- Vol. 4 Iss. 2
- Notes:
- 4pgs, Background Communicating about antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) requires technical knowledge, consideration of audience values and appropriate identification of communication strategies for multiple audiences. Within the context of animal agriculture, communicating about AMR represents an important and complex endeavour for veterinarians, governmental agencies, producers and the industry to convey policy and practice information regarding the use of antimicrobials in food animals. Objectives To assess the science communication challenges related to AMR by identifying the motivations, goals and struggles of animal agriculture stakeholders when communicating about AMR and AMS. Methods Participants attending a meeting on AMR communication in animal agriculture (N = 80) completed a workshop on science communication, including small group meetings with oral/written comments collected. Participants included veterinarians, government agency representatives, industry stakeholders and producers. Results Results indicated participants believed providing more accurate information would resolve misunderstanding and concern about AMR to other stakeholders, counter to recommendations of science communicators. Other participants noted beliefs about the utility of stories in trying to explain how AMS is normative and consistent with the values of all parties interested in animal agriculture. Participants noted the importance of public engagement, even if the participants’ perceived target audiences did not include the public. Conclusions Communicating about AMR and AMS in animal agriculture contexts provide unique challenges. Few evidence-based recommendations are available for science communicators in these contexts and more research is needed to improve the quality of communication about AMR and AMS in animal agriculture.
7. Extension employee health behaviors, needs, and interests: a utah-based survey
- Collection:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center (ACDC)
- Contributers:
- Ciciurkaite, Gabriele (author), Sulzer, Sandra H. (author), and Parkhurst, Emma (author)
- Format:
- Journal article
- Publication Date:
- 2022-02-28
- Published:
- United States: Clemson University Press
- Location:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 205 Document Number: D12532
- Journal Title:
- Journal of Extension
- Journal Title Details:
- V. 60, Iss. 1
- Notes:
- 9 pgs, The goal of our study was to better understand the health and wellness practices, needs, and interests within Cooperative Extension. We used a Qualtrics web-based survey to collect data from Extension employees at Utah State University. Extension employees demonstrated interest in making healthier lifestyles a priority through Extension-specific wellness programs focused on exercise and physical activity, promotion of optimal mental health, and opportunities for personal development. Extension leaders and administrators are encouraged to offer targeted programming to enhance health and wellness within Cooperative Extension.
8. Using community food assessments to improve local food systems
- Collection:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center (ACDC)
- Contributers:
- Maille, Robin L. (author)
- Format:
- Journal article
- Publication Date:
- 2022-02-28
- Published:
- United States: Clemson University Press
- Location:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 204 Document Number: D12479
- Journal Title:
- Journal of Extension
- Journal Title Details:
- V. 60, N. 1
- Notes:
- 7pgs, Community Food Assessments (CFAs) can be used to identify resources and gaps in how food is grown and distributed in a community, and develop action plans for improvement. This article shares the process for conducting these assessments and draws lessons from CFAs conducted across Oregon. Key themes and innovative projects are highlighted to share potential programming ideas. Extension can play a role in partnership development and networking that helps create sustainable projects that improve local food systems.
9. Are religious farmers more risk taking? empirical evidence from ethiopia
- Collection:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center (ACDC)
- Contributers:
- Abraha Kahsay, Goytom (author), Asmare Kassie, Workineh (author), Medhin, Haileselassie (author), and Gårn Hansen, Lars (author)
- Format:
- Journal article
- Publication Date:
- 2022-02-08
- Published:
- United States: Wiley Online
- Location:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 204 Document Number: D12441
- Journal Title:
- Journal of Agricultural Economics
- Notes:
- 16 pages, There is growing evidence that religiosity affects important socio-economic outcomes. A potential channel through which religiosity affects these outcomes is by shaping individuals’ risk preferences. We combine a lab-in-the-field experiment, survey, and focus-group discussions to investigate the effect of religiosity on risk-taking among rural people in Ethiopia. We find evidence that religious farmers are more risk-taking. The effect is likely driven by the trust/belief in God as the omniscient and just power in determining outcomes under uncertainty. This is further corroborated by results from follow-up focus-group discussions.
10. Does neighborhood matter? spatial proximity and farmers’ technical efficiency
- Collection:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center (ACDC)
- Contributers:
- Tirkaso, Wondmagegn (author) and Hailu, Atakelty (author)
- Format:
- Journal article
- Publication Date:
- 2022-02-02
- Published:
- United States: Wiley Online
- Location:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 204 Document Number: D12443
- Journal Title:
- Journal of Agricultural Economics
- Notes:
- 13pgs, This article examines the effects of neighborhood on the farmer's technical efficiency (TE) level, adopting a stochastic frontier and spatial Durbin regression models. Our study exploits a three-wave household-level panel data from the Ethiopian Rural Socioeconomic Survey (ERSS) collected between 2011 and 2015. We find that farmers have an average TE score of 53%, implying a substantial potential for improvement in the production level. We further find that there is a positive and statistically significant spatial interdependence in TE levels between farms in neighboring communities. Input use, education, and other demographic characteristics are found to have significant positive direct and indirect effects. The findings suggest that policies and programs targeting productivity improvements in agriculture need to consider spatial spillover effects.
11. Sheep meat consumers in Mexico: Understanding their perceptions, habits, preferences and market segments
- Collection:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center (ACDC)
- Contributers:
- Alanís, P.J. (author), Miranda-de la Lama, G.C. (author), Mariezcurrena-Berasain, M.A. (author), Barbabosa-Pliego, A. (author), Rayas-Amor, A.A. (author), and Estévez-Moreno, L.X. (author)
- Format:
- Journal article
- Publication Date:
- 2022-02-02
- Published:
- United States: Elsevier
- Location:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 205 Document Number: D12570
- Journal Title:
- Meat Science
- Journal Title Details:
- 184
- Notes:
- 9 pages, Sheep meat is an essential element within the multicultural mosaic of Mexican agri-food traditions. A total of 332 consumers were surveyed face-to-face in restaurants specializing in selling traditional sheep meat products. Our results showed that consumers could be segmented based on their perceptions, habits, and preferences towards sheep meat. For consumers, sheep meat is perceived as food with unique sensory attributes, coming from healthier animals than other species and traditional characters. Their willingness to pay extra is subject to the guarantee that the meat is safe, free of hormones and antibiotics, and to a lesser extent, certified organic. The multivariate analysis suggested three clusters or consumer profiles named passive, wholehearted, and deep-rooted, which explained the associations among attitudes, some demographic variables, and consumption frequency. The nascent national sheep meat industry needs to consider these concerns in developing marketing and trust strategies to attract, maintain, and build loyalty among Mexican consumers.
12. Development of Instrument to Assess Influence of Extension Conference on Intended Outcomes
- Collection:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center (ACDC)
- Contributers:
- Denny, Marina D. (author) and Ellard, Martha A. (author)
- Format:
- journal article
- Publication Date:
- 2022-01-24
- Published:
- United States: Clemson University Press
- Location:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 203 Document Number: D12261
- Journal Title:
- Journal of Extension
- Journal Title Details:
- V. 60, N. 1
- Notes:
- 5 pages., The Annual Conference for Mississippi State University Extension is the sole event at which the majority of Extension personnel gather for networking, organizational updates, recognition of efforts, and professional development. Extension leaders plan this conference with intended outcomes but without ever evaluating those outcomes beyond attendee satisfaction. We developed an evaluation instrument to determine how certain conference events influence participants’ critical psychological states and ultimately, their perceived motivation, professional enrichment, opportunities for networking, professional accountability, and organizational awareness. Rather than simply assessing attendee satisfaction, this instrument may help inform planning for successive Extension conferences and other professional development events.
13. Effects of information on smallholder irrigation farmers’ willingness to pay for groundwater protection
- Collection:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center (ACDC)
- Contributers:
- Alhassan, Mustapha (author), Gustafson, Christopher R. (author), and Schoengold, Karina (author)
- Format:
- Journal article
- Publication Date:
- 2022-01-14
- Published:
- United States: Wiley Online
- Location:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 204 Document Number: D12445
- Journal Title:
- Journal of Agricultural Economics
- Notes:
- 13 pages, In Ghana, groundwater, accessed through wells and boreholes, is generally unregulated and may be contaminated with pollutants including excess nitrates from agricultural chemical fertilizers. Yet, studies estimating how clean groundwater is valued are not available in Ghana. In addition, some research suggests that the pre-experiment information provided to survey respondents affects their valuation of an identical outcome. This paper estimates smallholder farmers’ preferences for groundwater protection using pre-experiment information focused on one of two outcomes: environment or health. The double-bounded contingent valuation (DBCV) approach is used to estimate willingness to pay (WTP) to protect groundwater quality. The estimation accounts for shift and anchoring effects, which are common issues with the DBCV method. The mean WTP from the health (environmental) information subsample is about US$19 (US$17) per acre, and the values are significantly different between the information conditions. The findings shed light on the importance of using precise information in eliciting WTP in a developing country setting.
14. Agricultural value chain development in nepal: understanding mechanisms for poverty reduction
- Collection:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center (ACDC)
- Contributers:
- Kafle, Kashi (author), Songsermsawas, Tisorn (author), and Winters, Paul (author)
- Format:
- Journal article
- Publication Date:
- 2022-01-12
- Published:
- United States: Wiley Online
- Location:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 204 Document Number: D12452
- Journal Title:
- Journal of Agricultural Economics
- Notes:
- 18pgs, This analysis investigates the potential mechanisms and the practical significance of agricultural value chain development in a geographically challenging rural area of a developing country. Using data from a carefully designed primary survey administered in a hill and mountainous region in Western Nepal, we show that linking small-scale producers to regional and local traders can help increase income. Analysis of impact pathways shows that the positive impact on household income emerges through higher agricultural income, driven by higher sale volume at lower prices. Focusing on high value commodities in rural areas, where arable land is not always fully exploited or utilized, appears to lead to acreage expansion and some crop switching, contributing to higher supply albeit at lower prices. The positive impact on household income is practically significant; it helps improve household food security and asset accumulation. These findings are robust to alternative specifications. Targeted value chain interventions that strengthen and stabilize small-scale producers’ access to markets can contribute to rural poverty reduction via increase in agricultural income.
15. A nationwide chinese consumer study of public interest on agriculture
- Collection:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center (ACDC)
- Contributers:
- Liao, Danfeng (author), Cui, Kai (author), and Ke, Lijing (author)
- Format:
- Journal Article
- Publication Date:
- 2022
- Published:
- United States: Nature
- Location:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 205 Document Number: D12711
- Journal Title:
- npj Science of Food
- Journal Title Details:
- Volume 6, Issue 1
- Notes:
- 6pgs, A nationwide study was undertaken in China to understand why public interest has shifted away from agriculture and to discuss approaches that may help restore interest and support for agriculture. The study collected 2586 questionnaires from 242 cities in 31 provinces in mainland China. The results suggest that agriculture is still of public interest, but interest has shifted from traditional farming to the consumer perspective in food safety, nutrition and health, food security and agricultural history. Two groups in this study, the younger generation and those with college degrees, show less interest in production agriculture. The accelerating shift in population from rural China to urban areas explains why these two groups are less connected with agricultural issues. The authors contend that it is critically important to keep the urban population knowledgeable of the importance of agriculture and suggest ways to improve communication and support from this educated, city-dweller point of view in order to ensure a stable and secure future. The approach of science appreciation (ways to effectively communicate science to general publics) is proposed to effectively gain renewed interest and engagement with the public in the science of agriculture in order to optimize the needs and benefits from agriculture to society.
16. Can information drive demand for safer food? impact of brand-specific recommendations and test results on product choice
- Collection:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center (ACDC)
- Contributers:
- Wairimu Kariuki, Sarah (author) and Hoffmann, Vivian (author)
- Format:
- Journal Article
- Publication Date:
- 2021-11-17
- Published:
- United States: Wiley Online
- Location:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 204 Document Number: D12455
- Journal Title:
- Journal of Agricultural Economics
- Notes:
- 14pgs, As an unobservable attribute, food safety is likely to be under-provided by markets where regulatory enforcement is weak. In such settings, stimulating consumer demand for safer food can potentially encourage market actors to invest in food safety. Through a randomized trial in Kenya, we test the impact of informing consumers about which maize flour brands are most likely to comply with the regulatory standard for aflatoxin, a carcinogenic fungal byproduct. Providing information on safer brands alone does not significantly affect consumption behavior. However, when the same information is combined with a test performed on the maize flour stocked by the household, the likelihood that a safer brand is consumed 2 months later is 76% higher than in the comparison group. Our findings suggest that providing information on the relative riskiness of substitute foods could encourage consumers to make safer choices.
17. Insights into barriers and educational needs for farm succession programming
- Collection:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center (ACDC)
- Contributers:
- Schlesser, Heather (author), Stuttgen, Sandra (author), Binversie, Liz (author), and Kirkpatrick, Joy (author)
- Format:
- Journal article
- Publication Date:
- 2021-10-28
- Published:
- United States: Clemson University Press
- Location:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Document Number: D12406
- Journal Title:
- Journal of Extension
- Journal Title Details:
- Vol. 59, Iss. 4
- Notes:
- 11 pages, Planning for farm succession is vital to the longevity of the farm business. To understand the challenges with succession planning, the University of Wisconsin - Division of Extension facilitated focus group meetings across the state. These authors classified the information from the focus groups into eight codes, and each code was further subdivided into themes. The codes included Financial, Communication, Control, Change, Fair vs. Equal, Delivery, and Support, Strategies, and Educational Needs. University of Wisconsin Division of Extension Agriculture Educators utilized the information obtained from the focus groups to create a workbook that provides practical assistance when working with families planning a farm succession.
18. Measuring farmers' well- being: influence of farm- level factors on satisfaction with work and quality of life
- Collection:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center (ACDC)
- Contributers:
- Herrera Sabillón, Beatriz (author), Gerster- Bentaya, Maria (author), and Keshwani, Jenny (author)
- Format:
- Journal article
- Publication Date:
- 2021-10-13
- Published:
- United States: John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
- Location:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Document Number: D12347
- Journal Title:
- Journal of Agricultural Economics
- Notes:
- 20 pages, To achieve social sustainability, there is a need to incorporate social metrics of farmers’ well- being into agricultural monitoring systems. We contribute to the operationalisation of the measurement of farmers’ well- being by determining how farm- level factors influence farmers’ satisfaction with their work and quality of life. Using a data sample of 1099 farms that are part of the Farm Accountancy Data Network (FADN) in nine European countries, we tested a set of hypotheses related to work satisfaction and life quality perception based on a structural equation model. Satisfaction with on- farm work has a significant and substantial influence on satisfaction with quality of life. Farm- level aspects, such as working time, age of assets, financial situation of the farm and community engagement, significantly influenced farmers’ satisfaction with farming, but their joint effect explained less than one- fifth of the satisfaction. The results suggest that agricultural information systems intended to monitor and compare sustainability progress on farms would benefit from the integration of a metric measuring social concerns from the farmers’ point of view
19. Factors influencing smallholder farmers to participate in farmer-led research of agro-ecological practices in selected areas, tanzania
- Collection:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center (ACDC)
- Contributers:
- Kihoma, Luambano (author), Churi, Ayubu J. (author), Sanga, Camilius A. (author), and Tisselli, Eugenio (author)
- Format:
- Journal article
- Publication Date:
- 2021-10
- Published:
- Academic Journals
- Location:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Document Number: D12341
- Journal Title:
- Journal of Agricultural Extension and Rural Development
- Journal Title Details:
- V. 13 N. 4
- Notes:
- 11 pages, Declining crop productivity is a great challenge facing smallholder farmers in Tanzania. Agro-ecological practices can improve crop productivity in a sustainable way and produce healthy food among smallholder farmers. Initiation of “Farmer-Led Research of Agro-Ecological Practices” (FLRAG) may enhance farmers’ capacities for innovation and co-develop suitable agro-ecological practices. This study aimed at identifying factors influencing smallholder farmers to participate in FLRAG. A cross-sectional survey was used to collect qualitative and quantitative data from 90 smallholder farmers in Mvomero, Bagamoyo and Masasi districts in Tanzania. Data were also collected from key informants who were extension officers. The study identified that experience in farming, easiness in accessing agro-ecological inputs, interest in doing experiments and farm size ownership are the factors that substantially influence smallholder farmers to participate in FLRAG. Therefore, researchers are advised to select participants of FLRAG by considering the mentioned factors. Furthermore, farmers selected to participate in FLRAG are advised to the use of ugunduzi app” that was developed purposefully to enhance agro-ecological research in order to test and understand its potential on smoothing agro-ecological research activities.
20. Responses of smallholder farmers on sorghum production preferences and constraints in the upper east region of ghana
- Collection:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center (ACDC)
- Contributers:
- Azu, Elaine (author), Elegba, Wilfred (author), Asare, Abigail Tweneboah (author), Blege, Precious Kwaku (author), Amoatey, Harry Mensah (author), and Danquah, Eric Yirenkyi (author)
- Format:
- Journal article
- Publication Date:
- 2021-10
- Published:
- Academic Journals
- Location:
- Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Document Number: D12342
- Journal Title:
- Journal of Agricultural Extension and Rural Development
- Journal Title Details:
- V. 13, N. 3
- Notes:
- 15 pages, In spite of several strategies implemented to improve sorghum production in Ghana, average grain yield in farmers’ fields remains low and far below the estimated potential. The development of effective strategies requires continuous, in-depth understanding of production constraints as well as farmer preferences for crop traits. To this end, a participatory rural appraisal using focus group discussions, interviews with semi-structured questionnaires and preference ranking was carried out among 122 smallholder sorghum farmers in the Upper East Region of Ghana. Majority (91%) of respondents were engaged in farming with more than half of their farm sizes allocated to sorghum cultivation. Drought, high cost of farm inputs and declining soil fertility were the top three constraints. Almost 42% of farmers described their soils as low in fertility. The most preferred traits by farmers were drought tolerance, high grain yield, earliness, grain quality as well as low fertilizer requirement. A better understanding of the perceptions of farmers and factors that limit the adoption of improved technology is important to guide policy towards the design of effective crop improvement and extension programmes. The study highlights the importance of breeding sorghum varieties with traits preferred by smallholder farmers that will lead to increased adoption of improved technology.
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