A study of the social economic factors affecting the adoption of the principles of organic agriculture by small scale farmers in the Chongwe Area
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Date
2013
Authors
Jalasi-Kumwenda, Yimale
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
The University of Zambia
Abstract
The main objective of this study was to assess the factors affecting the adoption of the principles of organic farmers in Chongwe district in Lusaka province of Zambia. The study was based on the sample survey data from the district. A Tobit analysis was used to identify the factors affecting the level and intensity of adoption of organic agricultural practices in the district. The article considers explanatory variables like the level of education of the household head, the sex of the household head, the age of the household head, the marital status of the household head, access to markets and what training in the principles of organic agriculture they have received, for example in crop rotation.
The results showed that adoption of organic agricultural practices in the district is explained by the household size and training in crop rotation. The findings revealed that a households decision to adopt organic agriculture practices is significantly responsive to household size (*p<0.1) and training in crop rotation (***p<0.01). These are the factors that the extension agents ought to consider as they diffuse the information about the adoption of organic agriculture.
Organic agriculture practices are essential to the improving the food security of small scale farmers as well as providing a sustainable way to earn income. Extension education and training must emphasize the importance of these practices by explaining the several agronomic and economic benefits to the farmers. Farmers introduced to these practices my provided with adequate access to water, manure and more extension services to increase the use intensity of organic agriculture.
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Keywords
Farms, Small scale--Zambia , Organic Farming-Chongwe,Zambia