A study was conducted in the north east region of Ghana to ascertain the vegetables produced and marketed by farmers and traders respectively and determine the causes of post-harvest losses among the farmers and traders. Multistage random sampling procedure was used to select respondents and a set of structured questionnaires were administered. The data collected were analyzed using simple descriptive statistics. 126 vegetable farmers and 45 vegetable traders were interviewed. The findings sh...
Artisanal small-scale mining activities are on the rise with several concerns. Whiles these are issues of concern, farmers in the mining communities are providing labourservices to ASM for wages. This study investigated the determinants of farmers’decision to provide labour services to ASM. It also assessed the welfare effects of providing labour services to ASM operations. Multi-stage sampling technique wasemployed to collect cross-sectional data from 200 farm households in two districts i...
Abstract: Fish farmers are a vulnerable group to climate variability and extreme climate events effects as their production heavily relies on precipitation and temperature. However, previous studies on vulnerability of fish farmers to climate variability and extreme events have been done on global, regional and national scales, thus failing to capture the local realities on spatial variability. The current study was carried out to assess the householdlevel vulnerability of fish farmers to cl...
Abstract: Climate variability and extreme events are some of the most pressing environmental challenges occurring in the contemporary world. Farming communities in Sub-Saharan Africa, particularly in Kenya are more vulnerable to climate variability and extreme events due to high dependence on weather patterns in their farming activities. There is little understanding of the vulnerability to climate variability and extreme events among farmers in Kitui County based on the agro-ecological zone...
Abstract: Forests are believed to play critical ecological, social, cultural, and economic role to the livelihoods of smallholder farmers in Kenya and even all over the world. Forestry Provisioning Ecosystem Services (FPES) contribute significantly to smallholder farmers‘ livelihoods though this contribution is sometimes not accounted for. Understanding the role played by FPES to the livelihood of smallscale farmers is crucial for sustainable management of the forest resources. This study ...
Abstract: The food insecurity landscape has changed globally due to widespread issues such as the persistence of conflict in some countries like Somalia and the rise in natural disasters over the last decade has seen the rise in the number of major humanitarian disasters. Food aid is the Largest part of humanitarian assistance and it is estimated to account for 25 % to 30% of all aid (Harvey, Proudlock, Riley, Clay and Jaspers, 2010, pp. 1 & 2). The main objective of this study was to explor...
Abstract: The need to enhance food production and the efforts by stakeholders to introduce newfarming innovations in addition to enhancement of agricultural extension servicesin farming areas of Kenya is largely under reported. This study was undertaken at YattaDivision of Kitui County to assess new maize farming technologies, diffusion andadoption by farmers in Yatta Division. Specific objectives were to identify maize farmingtechnologies that exist in Yatta, to identify factors determining...
Abstract: Kenya is one of the tobacco growing countries in Africa with most tobacco being produced in South Nyanza, Eastern and Western parts of Kenya. Despite the increasing deterioration of the environment caused by tobacco farming, very little is known about the measures in place to manage the situation. It is not clear to what extent the environmental management practices are employed in tobacco growing zones.Furthermore, it is not known how widespread the environmental degradation and e...
Abstract: Semi-arid peri-urban environment holds great potential for dairy development to meet the high demand for milk and become a livelihood support strategy. In support for dairy production, forage technologies were promoted among dairy farmers in order to improve the performance of the sector and contribute to poverty reduction. However, the level and determinants of adoption of selected forage technologies in relation to dairy production is still unknown. To address this, 150 dairy far...
Abstract: Natural resource degradation and water scarcity are a global concern that threatens sustainability of smallholder farmers’ livelihoods in arid and semi-arid lands (ASALs). In ASALs, low adoption of Integrated Soil Fertility and Water Management (ISFWM) technologies has contributed to food and nutrition insecurity. A study was carried out to assess factors influencing smallholder farmers’ adoption decision of ISFWM technologies in Mwala and Yatta Sub-Counties. A questionnaire wa...
Abstract: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of land degradation on agricultural land use, planning and management in Kalama Division, Machakos County; and specifically determined farmers’ considerations of land suitability for selected types of agricultural land uses in varying cropping zones, investigated farmers’ local environmental knowledge of land degradation indicators and finally documented farmers’ land management strategies and practices for soil and water c...
Abstract: Climate change has higher impact on agricultural production by its effect flood, drought, crop pests and diseases. The main objective of study was to assess the determinants of farmers’ choices of adaptation strategies to climate change. Both primary and secondary data were used. A multistage sampling technique was used. This study depends on cross-sectional data. Descriptive statistics,weighted average index, principal component analysis and Multivariate Probit model were used. ...
Abstract: Climate variability and change is one of the global challenges facing human beings and their socio-economic activities. The negative impacts are being felt in many parts of Kenya especially in decadence of the agricultural productivity resulting into decreased national and household food security. To adapt to the changing climate, farmers’ need a paradigm shift in their farming practices and adopt practices that sustainably increase agricultural productivity and enhance their res...
Abstract: Understanding the influence rainfall variability on agricultural production is needed to cope with current and future changes in rainfall variables especially in countries that largely rely on rain fed agriculture. The objective of this study was to analysis rainfall variability, farmers’ perception and adaptation strategies in the Daro Lebu Woreda. To achieve this objective, historical climate data from 1995-2019 were obtained from Ethiopian National Metrological Agency. In addi...
Abstract: The adverse impact of climate change on agricultural production and productivity is increasing over time in Ethiopia. Smallholder farmers are the most vulnerable group of the society to the effects of climate change in this country since their livelihood depended on rainfed agriculture. This study was carried out to examine smallholder farmers’ vulnerability, perception, the choice of adaptation strategies, and institutional adaptive capacity of local institutions to climate chan...