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Determinants of the Adoption of Sustainable Intensification in Southern African Farming Systems: A Meta-Analysis

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  • Qian Guo

    (Department of Governance in International Agribusiness and Department of Agricultural Production and Resource Economics, Technical University of Munich (TUM), 85354 Freising, Germany)

  • Oreoluwa Ola

    (Department of Governance in International Agribusiness and Department of Agricultural Production and Resource Economics, Technical University of Munich (TUM), 85354 Freising, Germany)

  • Emmanuel O. Benjamin

    (Department of Governance in International Agribusiness and Department of Agricultural Production and Resource Economics, Technical University of Munich (TUM), 85354 Freising, Germany)

Abstract

Climate change and environmental degradation are major threats to sustainable agricultural development in Southern Africa. Thus, the concept of sustainable intensification (SI) has become an important topic among researchers and policymakers in the region over the last three decades. SI involves getting more output from less input using practices such as agroforestry, organic fertilizer, sustainable water management, among others. A comprehensive review of the literature on adoption of SI in the region identified nine relevant drivers of adoption of SI among (smallholder) farmers. These drivers include (i) age, (ii) size of arable land, (iii) education, (iv) extension services, (v) gender, (vi) household size, (vii) income, (viii) membership in a farming organization and (ix) access to credit. We present the results of a meta-analysis of 21 papers on the impact of these determinants on SI adoption among (smallholder) farmers in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) using random-effects estimation techniques for the true effect size. While our results suggest that variables such as extension services, education, age, and household size may influence the adoption of SI in SADC, factors such as access to credit are also of great importance. Decision-makers should, therefore, concentrate efforts on these factors in promoting SI across the SADC. This includes increasing the efficiency of public extension service, as well as the involvement of the private sector in extension services. Furthermore, both public and private agriculture financing models should consider sustainability indicators in their assessment process.

Suggested Citation

  • Qian Guo & Oreoluwa Ola & Emmanuel O. Benjamin, 2020. "Determinants of the Adoption of Sustainable Intensification in Southern African Farming Systems: A Meta-Analysis," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(8), pages 1-13, April.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:12:y:2020:i:8:p:3276-:d:346805
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    6. Helder Zavale & Greenwell Matchaya & Delfim Vilissa & Charles Nhemachena & Sibusiso Nhlengethwa & Duque Wilson, 2020. "Dynamics of the Fertilizer Value Chain in Mozambique," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(11), pages 1-18, June.

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