Article
Ecology
Edward Martey, John K. M. Kuwornu
Summary: The study examines the factors influencing the adoption of integrated soil fertility management practices in Ghana, revealing that demographic, farm-related, and institutional factors, as well as perceptions of climate variability and shocks, play a significant role. Farmers adopt risk-averse decisions and mitigation strategies in response to climate shocks, with different perceptions leading to diverse combinations of ISFM practices. Providing timely climate information and promoting better fit ISFM practices can enhance adoption rates.
ECOLOGICAL ECONOMICS
(2021)
Article
Veterinary Sciences
Emily Awuor Ouma, Clovice Kankya, Michel Dione, Terra Kelly, Dolapo Enahoro, Gaspar Chiwanga, Yakubu Abukari, Peter Msoffe, Boniface Baboreka Kayang, Huaijun Zhou
Summary: Smallholder poultry production in low- and middle-income countries is constrained by infectious diseases, particularly viral diseases such as Newcastle disease. This study used participatory epidemiology approaches to understand the challenges faced by smallholder poultry producers in Northern Ghana and Central Tanzania. The results highlighted the dominance of small-scale semi-intensive and extensive scavenging poultry production systems, and identified Newcastle disease as the highest cause of morbidity and mortality in chickens in both countries.
FRONTIERS IN VETERINARY SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Bekele Hundie Kotu, Abdul Rahman Nurudeen, Francis Muthoni, Irmgard Hoeschle-Zeledon, Fred Kizito
Summary: This study assessed the potential impact of applying a new groundnut planting density on the welfare of smallholder farmers in northern Ghana. The findings showed that increasing plant density can increase farmers' financial returns and promoting a more integrated groundnut value-chain can further enhance farmers' welfare.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Moses Kwadzo, Emmanuel Quayson
Summary: The study found that only a minority of respondents adopted the full set of integrated soil fertility management technologies, and that agroecological zone is a significant factor influencing smallholder farmers' adoption of these technologies.
Article
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
Bunbom Edward Daadi, Uwe Latacz-Lohmann
Summary: This study identifies common management approaches of organic fertilizer use among smallholder farmers in northeastern Ghana and examines the impact of farmer characteristics on the adoption of these approaches. Participation in organic fertilizer management training is found to have a positive influence on adoption of all identified approaches.
RENEWABLE AGRICULTURE AND FOOD SYSTEMS
(2021)
Article
Agronomy
Solomon Eghosa Uhunamure, Zongho Kom, Karabo Shale, Nthaduleni Samuel Nethengwe, Jacobus Steyn
Summary: This study aims to capture smallholder farmers' opinions on organic farming in Limpopo Province, South Africa, revealing that while organic farming is gaining recognition and seen as profitable, the stringent standards and difficulty in certification are major challenges. The results suggest the need for more awareness, training, and simplified certification processes to change farmers' perceptions in the province.
Article
Plant Sciences
Nurudeen Abdul Rahman, Asamoah Larbi, Albert Berdjour, Fred Kizito, Irmgard Hoeschle-Zeledon
Summary: The study demonstrated that planting cowpea living mulch can improve soil quality and increase maize grain yield in maize-based cropping systems in West Africa. Planting CPLM 1-2 weeks after maize can achieve better results in terms of soil quality and crop yield.
JOURNAL OF SOIL SCIENCE AND PLANT NUTRITION
(2022)
Article
Soil Science
Leticia Jimenez, Wilmer Jimenez, Diego Felicito, Natacha Fierro, Pablo Quichimbo, Darwin Sanchez, Daniel Capa-Mora
Summary: This study investigated farmer local knowledge of soil management practices and fertility, finding that farmers identify soil fertility through visible indicators and apply practices inherited from their parents and grandparents. Some practices can contribute to soil conservation, but there are also contradictions between local knowledge and scientific understanding in certain locations.
Article
Agronomy
Pamellah A. Asule, Collins Musafiri, George Nyabuga, Wambui Kiai, Felix K. Ngetich, Christoph Spurk
Summary: Soil fertility decline is a major barrier to food security in sub-Saharan Africa, especially for smallholder farmers. This study examines the simultaneous use of soil fertility information sources by 400 smallholder farming households in Kenya. The findings reveal that farmers use multiple sources of information, primarily as complements, and their choices are influenced by factors such as location, marital status, occupation, and farming experience. These findings have implications for information dissemination strategies to improve soil health and productivity.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Benjamin Tetteh Anang, Jennifer Amesimeku, James Fearon
Summary: This study investigated the factors driving the adoption of crop protection and soil fertility management practices among soybean farmers in rural Ghana, and found that there is interdependence among different technologies, with institutional factors being more influential for some practices and farmer characteristics for others.
Article
Horticulture
Ifeoma Nwafor, Christopher Nwafor, Idah Manduna
Summary: The paper explores the challenges faced by subsistent farmers in cultivating medicinal plants and recommends providing more research support and targeted incentives to promote their involvement. This can help improve smallholder livelihoods and protect indigenous biodiversity for future generations.
Article
Agronomy
Dirk Raes, Moussa Waongo, Eline Vanuytrecht, Patricia Mejias Moreno
Summary: The research using simulations and data analysis shows that climate change will have a negative impact on crop yield in smallholder farms if management practices are not improved, with expected yield decrease of 5% to 20%.
AGRICULTURAL AND FOREST METEOROLOGY
(2021)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Philip Antwi-Agyei, Hanson Nyantakyi-Frimpong
Summary: This study examines the coping practices and adaptation measures of smallholder farmers in northeast Ghana in response to climate change, emphasizing the importance of enhancing their capacities to address both immediate climate variations and future changes.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Martin Paul Tabe-Ojong Jr, Lina Marcela Ibarra, Robert Santiago Andrade, Ricardo Labarta
Summary: Land degradation, declining soil fertility, and erosion pose challenges to agricultural production in developing countries. Soil conservation practices have been developed and disseminated to tackle these issues, but evidence on their effectiveness and impact on smallholder welfare is scarce. This study examines the relationship between soil conservation, farm performance, and welfare outcomes of smallholder cassava farmers in Thailand. The findings show a positive association between soil conservation practices and cassava yields, as well as other welfare outcomes such as asset accumulation and livestock ownership, indicating the potential for rural diversification.
LAND DEGRADATION & DEVELOPMENT
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Amos W. Wawire, Adam Csorba, Jozsef A. Toth, Erika Micheli, Mark Szalai, Evans Mutuma, Eszter Kovacs
Summary: This study evaluates soil fertility management among smallholder farmers in Mount Kenya East region and finds that the decision to invest in fertility practices is correlated with farmers' socio-economic, farm-related factors and institutional characteristics. ISFM techniques are divided into 3 sets, including manure, fertilizer use, agroforestry; slash-no-burn, residue burn, fallowing; residue application, minimum tillage.