Socio-economic determinants of farmers\' adoption of rotational woodlot technology in Kgorobya Sub-County, Hoima District, Uganda

Abstract

Understanding the factors affecting farmers\' adoption of rotational woodlot
technologies is critical to the success of implementing tree planting programmes. This
paper evaluates, using logistic and multiple regression analyses, the socioeconomic
factors that influence farmers\' decisions to adopt rotational woodlot technology in the
farming systems of Uganda, based on a survey of 120 farmers in Kigorobya subcounty,
Hoima district. The analyses demonstrate that farmers make decisions about
woodlot technology based on household and field characteristics. The factors that
significantly influenced adoption decisions included: gender, tree tenure security, seed
supply, contact with extension and research agencies, soil erosion index, size of
landholding, fuelwood scarcity, and main source of family income. To promote greater
adoption of rotational woodlot technology, particular attention should be placed on
the use of appropriate socioeconomic characterization, to better target technologies to
areas with greater adoption potential.

Keywords: Rotational woodlot; Adoption, logit model; Uganda

South African Journal of Agricultural Extension Vol. 37 2008: pp. 1-16