Agriculture

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Browsing Agriculture by Subject "Agricultural credit"

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    Payment for Environmental Services (PES) and willingness to adopt improved fallows: Case study of Chipata District
    (The University of Zambia, 2015) Chilembo, Ignitious
    The purpose of this research was to understand the farmers' willingness to adopt improved fallows if they were compensated. And the study area was Chipata district covering Chipata central and Chiparamba agricultural blocks. The factors which affect the willingness of small scale farmers to use improved fallows were determined by applying descriptive statistics, probit regression model, and the marginal effects. The result, as presented in descriptive statistical tables indicated high levels of farmers' willingness adopt improved fallows. Compensation would be necessary to promote implementation of such practice though found to be insignificant factor of the willingness at 0.05 alpha level in probit. Education, level of wealth and age, all, had a positive effect on conservation practice implementation and were found to be significant factors for willingness to adopt improved fallows. The estimated willingness to adopt improved fallows if compensated was significantly higher among those that have attended school than those who have not attended school. The trend was found to be no different where wealth is concerned, that is, higher among the wealthy than among the poor. The study shows that there is need for government and other financing stakeholders to develop and strengthen institutional mechanisms that support farmers to participate in sustainable agricultural activities and secure food security along the way. This can be done through a well programmed extension services in order to enlighten farmers of their need to participate in environmental service provision through improved fallow technologies. Since the majority of the farmers are willing to use improved fallows, the technology should form part of an integrated rural development programme and thereby meet more of the farmer's basic needs than it presently does. This can be enhanced through provision of economic incentives (compensation) to farmers using improved fallow should be considered. Key Words: Compensation, Willingness to accept. Payment for Ecosystem Services, Improved fallows, Adoption, and Environmental Services