September 2011
Dismantling of common property, land use and pastoral livelihoods in eastern Ethiopia
This paper examines the emerging challenges to common property resource management in pastoral areas of Ethiopia and a shift in livelihood strategies. Using the institutional analysis and development framework and data from three administrative districts in eastern Ethiopia, results show that traditional management of the rangeland that permits efficient allocation of resources is no longer practiced due to demographic...
September 2011
Economic analysis of soil fertility restoration options in potato – bean of gardening intercropping in south – rift, Kenya
Soil fertility management options to restore soil fertility depletion have been developed and these consist of inorganic and organic fertilizer applications. However, the adoption rates by smallholder farmers for these soil fertility management options are negligible. The overall aim of this study was to evaluate side-by-side economic aspects of different soil fertility improvement options, which have been tested in the...
September 2011
Economic analysis of adoption of mulching technology in yam production in Osun State, Nigeria
In addressing the problem of low soil fertility and land degradation occasioned by increased population growth, erosion of soil nutrients and extreme exposure of land to harsh weather conditions resulting in reduced yam yield, mulching technology was adopted by the farmers in Osun State, Nigeria. This study used a multi-stage sampling technique to select...
September 2011
Influence of modern technology on small family-owned farms in the Brazilian savannah region: A case study of a settlement in Mato Grosso do Sul State
The Savannah region is the second biggest biome in Brazil after the amazon forest. Today, the savannah is Brazil´s largest region responsible for commodity production. Nevertheless, this production is concentrated around large-scale farmers. Most of the small farmers representing the largest group of producers encounter many problems ranging from low levels of production to income difficulties. The objective of...
September 2006
Prospects and challenges of seed sector privatisation
African countries embarked on privatisation of their seed industries in the 1980s as part of the structural adjustment programmes. Botswana however, chose not to privatise its seed production services at that time. This paper examines the prospects and challenges for embarking on seed sector privatisation in developing countries using Botswana as a case study. The study found that the present system is...
September 2011
Does Irrigation enhance and food deficits discourage fertilizer adoption in a risky environment? Evidence from Tigray, Ethiopia
The northern Ethiopian highland in general and the Tigray region in particular is a drought prone area where agricultural production risk is prevalent. Moisture stress is a limiting factor for improved agricultural input mainly fertilizer use. Lack of capital and consumption smoothing mechanisms limits households’ investment in production enhancing agricultural inputs, possibly leading into poverty trap. Using a...
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