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Determinants of agricultural land management practices among smallholder farmers in the Wanka watershed, northwestern highlands of EthiopiaI

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  • Abera, Wondwosen
  • Assen, Mohammed
  • Budds, Jessica

Abstract

Small-scale agriculture is an important livelihood in sub-Saharan Africa. In the face of land degradation, identifying the constraints to smallholder farmers in improving soil quality is important to inform institutional interventions. While previous policies and studies have concentrated on structural land management practices, less attention has been paid to farmers’ choice of land management strategies. This study examines the socio-economic, institutional, and agro-ecological factors that influence smallholder farmers’ land management practices, based on a case study of the Wanka watershed in the northwestern highlands of Ethiopia. Household survey questionnaires, key informant interviews and focus group discussions were used to gather data, which were analysed using descriptive statistics and a multinomial logit model. The study revealed that socio-economic factors (number of livestock, household size, plot size, farming experience, off-farm income) had a significant impact on mixed cropping and crop rotation, and the use of chemical fertiliser. Institutional factors (access to credit and extension services) strongly influenced farmers’ use of chemical/organic fertiliser and practice of mixed cropping, especially among younger farmers. Agro-ecological differences were also significant, the application of chemical fertiliser alone has decreased, but its practice in combination with crop rotation and drainage ditches increased, at lower elevations. The study concludes that the specific socio-economic circumstances of farmers, agro-ecological conditions of land, and institutional factors, need to be considered in the development of measures and policies that aim to encourage farmers to adopt additional land management practices to enhance sustainable agricultural production.

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  • Abera, Wondwosen & Assen, Mohammed & Budds, Jessica, 2020. "Determinants of agricultural land management practices among smallholder farmers in the Wanka watershed, northwestern highlands of EthiopiaI," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 99(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:lauspo:v:99:y:2020:i:c:s0264837719308865
    DOI: 10.1016/j.landusepol.2020.104841
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    5. Jouf, C. & Lawson, L.A., 2022. "European farmers’ responses to higher commodity prices: Cropland expansion or forestlands preservation?," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 191(C).
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    7. Feilong Weng & Xuan Liu & Xuexi Huo, 2023. "Impact of Internet Use on Farmers’ Organic Fertilizer Investment: A New Perspective of Access to Credit," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 13(1), pages 1-13, January.
    8. Banchayehu Tessema Assefa & Jordan Chamberlin & Martin K. van Ittersum & Pytrik Reidsma, 2021. "Usage and Impacts of Technologies and Management Practices in Ethiopian Smallholder Maize Production," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 11(10), pages 1-19, September.
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