Adoption Intensity of Bundled Sustainable Agricultural Practices among Small-Scale Maize Growers in Morogoro Region, Tanzania

Abstract

The study examined the adoption rate and intensity of bundled sustainable agricultural practices (SAPs) among smallholder maize farmers in Tanzania. The SAPs considered include crop rotation, intercropping, manure, improved seeds and crop residual. Using descriptive techniques and ordered probit model, data was collected from 470 farming households from Kilosa and Mvomero Districts through a multi-stage sampling procedure. The results show that education level, occupation, farming experience, sex of the household head, farm size, plot ownership, geographical location, membership in farmers’ organization and production diversity had significant impacts on the adoption intensity of multiple SAPs. In addition, there were greater disparities in the adoption intensity than in the adoption rates; the awareness and recognition of SAPs did not necessarily translate into increased usage. The study recommends that the interdependence nature of agricultural innovations should be considered in designing strategies dissemination of SAPs to provide farmers with a choice among different sets of practices that possess desirable traits. Given that diverse factors influence the usage of different combinations of SAPs, it is important that policymakers should take into consideration the significant factors to ensure that farmers can maximize the benefits of SAPs through provision of training programs to enlighten farmers on the benefits of SAPs.