IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/ags/agreko/346840.html

The Intensity of adoption of Conservation agriculture by smallholder farmers in Zimbabwe

Author

Listed:
  • Pedzisa, Tarisayi
  • Rugube, Lovemore
  • Winter-Nelson, Alex
  • Baylis, Kathy
  • Mazvimavi, Kizito

Abstract

This article assesses the intensity of technology adoption of conservation agriculture (CA) techniques by smallholder farmers in Zimbabwe. It seeks to understand the drivers of CA adoption intensity in terms of the number of practices implemented using count data analysis. On average, the farmers in our sample adopt five out of eight possible CA practices while only 7.4% use all eight practices in any one year. Practices such as digging planting basins (81.9%), applying manure (73.2%) and timely post-planting weeding (70.1%) are relatively popular, while adoption of crop rotation (22.8%) is comparatively rare. Productivity is positively correlated to the number of techniques used. Farmers adopting all the CA practices are the most productive, with an estimated maize yield of 2.50 tons/ha, compared with a yield of less than 1 tons/ha for those using three techniques or fewer. Results from a Poisson regression indicate that education, agro-ecology, non-governmental input support and extension support have a significant impact on adoption intensity. Subsidised inputs increase the number of components used, although access to those inputs was uneven across regions of Zimbabwe. Further, the number of CA components used in the previous season positively impacts current season adoption intensity, implying that promotions of CA technologies do have a persistent effect, even after those promotions end.

Suggested Citation

  • Pedzisa, Tarisayi & Rugube, Lovemore & Winter-Nelson, Alex & Baylis, Kathy & Mazvimavi, Kizito, 2016. "The Intensity of adoption of Conservation agriculture by smallholder farmers in Zimbabwe," Agrekon, Agricultural Economics Association of South Africa (AEASA), vol. 54(3), January.
    • Handle: RePEc:ags:agreko:346840
    DOI: 10.22004/ag.econ.346840
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://ageconsearch.umn.edu/record/346840/files/The%20Intensity%20of%20adoption%20of%20Conservation%20agriculture%20by%20smallholder%20farmers%20in%20Zimbabwe.pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.22004/ag.econ.346840?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Ekboir, Javier M., 2003. "Research and technology policies in innovation systems: zero tillage in Brazil," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 32(4), pages 573-586, April.
    2. Lohr, Luanne & Park, Timothy A., 2002. "Choice of insect management portfolios by organic farmers: lessons and comparative analysis," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 43(1), pages 87-99, November.
    3. Affholder, François & Jourdain, Damien & Quang, Dang Dinh & Tuong, To Phuc & Morize, Marion & Ricome, Aymeric, 2010. "Constraints to farmers' adoption of direct-seeding mulch-based cropping systems: A farm scale modeling approach applied to the mountainous slopes of Vietnam," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 103(1), pages 51-62, January.
    4. Rahelizatovo, Noro C. & Gillespie, Jeffrey M., 2004. "The Adoption of Best-Management Practices by Louisiana Dairy Producers," Journal of Agricultural and Applied Economics, Southern Agricultural Economics Association, vol. 36(01), pages 1-12, April.
    5. repec:dau:papers:123456789/11412 is not listed on IDEAS
    6. Meike Wollni & David R. Lee & Janice E. Thies, 2010. "Conservation agriculture, organic marketing, and collective action in the Honduran hillsides," Agricultural Economics, International Association of Agricultural Economists, vol. 41(3‐4), pages 373-384, May.
    7. Tarisayi Pedzisa & Isaac Minde & Stephen Twomlow, 2010. "An evaluation of the use of participatory processes in wide-scale dissemination of research in micro dosing and conservation agriculture in Zimbabwe," Research Evaluation, Oxford University Press, vol. 19(2), pages 145-155, June.
    8. Mazvimavi, Kizito & Twomlow, Steve, 2009. "Socioeconomic and institutional factors influencing adoption of conservation farming by vulnerable households in Zimbabwe," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 101(1-2), pages 20-29, June.
    9. Knowler, Duncan & Bradshaw, Ben, 2007. "Farmers' adoption of conservation agriculture: A review and synthesis of recent research," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 32(1), pages 25-48, February.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. repec:ags:ijag24:346840 is not listed on IDEAS
    2. Pannell, David J. & Llewellyn, Rick S. & Corbeels, Marc, "undated". "The farm-level economics of conservation agriculture for resource-poor farmers," Working Papers 166526, University of Western Australia, School of Agricultural and Resource Economics.
    3. Makate, Clifton & Hanyani-Mlambo, Benjamine, 2025. "Conservation Agriculture and sustainability of smallholder farms in Zimbabwe: Insights from a nationwide survey," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 158(C).
    4. Dependra Bhatta & Krishna P. Paudel & Kai Liu, 2023. "Factors influencing water conservation practices adoptions by Nepali farmers," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 25(10), pages 10879-10901, October.
    5. Jara-Rojas, Roberto & Bravo-Ureta, Boris E. & Díaz, José, 2012. "Adoption of water conservation practices: A socioeconomic analysis of small-scale farmers in Central Chile," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 110(C), pages 54-62.
    6. Mi, Jie & Nanseki, Teruaki & Chomei, Yosuke & Uenishi, Yoshihiro & Nguyen, Thi Ly, 2021. "Determinants of ICT and smart farming technology adoption by agricultural corporations in Japan," 2021 ASAE 10th International Conference (Virtual), January 11-13, Beijing, China 329382, Asian Society of Agricultural Economists (ASAE).
    7. Wollni, Meike & Andersson, Camilla, 2014. "Spatial patterns of organic agriculture adoption: Evidence from Honduras," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 97(C), pages 120-128.
    8. Oumer, Ali M. & Burton, Michael, "undated". "Drivers and Synergies in the Adoption of Sustainable Agricultural Intensification Practices: A Dynamic Perspective," 2018 Annual Meeting, August 5-7, Washington, D.C. 273871, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association.
    9. Ruzzante, Sacha & Labarta, Ricardo & Bilton, Amy, 2021. "Adoption of agricultural technology in the developing world: A meta-analysis of the empirical literature," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 146(C).
    10. Rickards, Chima & Marenya, Paswel & Chiduwa, Mazvita & Eitzinger, Anton & Fisher, Monica & Snapp, Sieglinde, 2025. "Enhancing farmers' agency is a more effective extension paradigm: The case of soil health management in Africa," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 225(C).
    11. Aubert, M. & Bouhsina, Z. & Codron, J.M. & Rousset, S., 2013. "Pesticide safety risk, food chain organization, and the adoption of sustainable farming practices. The case of Moroccan early tomatoes," Working Papers MoISA 201304, UMR MoISA : Montpellier Interdisciplinary center on Sustainable Agri-food systems (social and nutritional sciences): CIHEAM-IAMM, CIRAD, INRAE, L'Institut Agro, Montpellier SupAgro, IRD - Montpellier, France.
    12. Teklewold, Hailemariam & Kassie, Menale & Shiferaw, Bekele & Köhlin, Gunnar, 2013. "Cropping system diversification, conservation tillage and modern seed adoption in Ethiopia: Impacts on household income, agrochemical use and demand for labor," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 93(C), pages 85-93.
    13. Hanjra, Munir A. & Qureshi, M. Ejaz, 2010. "Global water crisis and future food security in an era of climate change," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 35(5), pages 365-377, October.
    14. Wondwossen Tsegaye & Roberto LaRovere & Germano Mwabu & Girma T. Kassie, 2017. "Adoption and farm-level impact of conservation agriculture in Central Ethiopia," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 19(6), pages 2517-2533, December.
    15. Hailemariam Teklewold & Alemu Mekonnen & Gunnar Kohlin & Salvatore Di Falco, 2017. "Does Adoption Of Multiple Climate-Smart Practices Improve Farmers’ Climate Resilience? Empirical Evidence From The Nile Basin Of Ethiopia," Climate Change Economics (CCE), World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd., vol. 8(01), pages 1-30, February.
    16. Traxler, Emilia & Li, Tongzhe, "undated". "Agricultural Best Management Practices, A summary of adoption behaviour," Working Papers 305271, University of Guelph, Institute for the Advanced Study of Food and Agricultural Policy.
    17. Teklewold, Hailemariam & Mekonnen, Alemu, 2017. "The Tilling of Land in a Changing Climate: Panel Data Evidence from the Nile Basin of Ethiopia," EfD Discussion Paper 17-3, Environment for Development, University of Gothenburg.
    18. repec:ags:iaae12:126829 is not listed on IDEAS
    19. Kassie, Menale & Teklewolde, Hailemariam & Erenstein, Olaf & Jaleta, Moti & Marenya, Paswel & Mekurai, Mulugetta, 2015. "Technology diversification: Assessing impacts on crop income and agrochemical uses in Malawi," 2015 Conference, August 9-14, 2015, Milan, Italy 211838, International Association of Agricultural Economists.
    20. Damien Jourdain & Juliette Lairez & Bruno Striffler & François Affholder, 2020. "Farmers’ preference for cropping systems and the development of sustainable intensification: a choice experiment approach," Review of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Studies, Springer, vol. 101(4), pages 417-437, December.
    21. Jourdain, Damien & Lairez, Juliette & Striffler, Bruno & Affholder, François, . "Farmers’ preference for cropping systems and the development of sustainable intensification: a choice experiment approach," Review of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Studies, Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique (INRA), vol. 101(4).
    22. Salaisook, Phastraporn & Faysse, Nicolas & Tsusaka, Takuji W., 2020. "Reasons for adoption of sustainable land management practices in a changing context: A mixed approach in Thailand," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 96(C).

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:ags:agreko:346840. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: AgEcon Search (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://edirc.repec.org/data/aeasaea.html .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.