Adoption of renewable soil fertility management technologies in bolero extension planning area (EPA), Rumphi, Malawi

Abstract

The study wanted to understand smallholder farmers’ perceptions of soil fertility levels and climate change and analyzed factors affecting adoption of renewable soil fertility management technologies (RSFMTs), namely agroforestry (fertilizer tree systems), residue management, crop rotation and intercropping with leguminous plants (green manure) in Bolero Extension Planning Area (EPA) in Rumphi district, Malawi. It further looked at strategies for improvement in the adoption of the technologies. Data on people’s adoption was collected from Bolero A, Bumba, Chirambo and Jalira strata covering one hundred and thirteen (113) respondents using a pretested structured questionnaire, key informant interviews, focus group discussions and literature reviews. Respondents for the study were selected using a simple random sampling method. Majority of respondents perceived that the current soil fertility levels were decreasing and that climate change is affecting them negatively. The study used a logistic regression model to analyze the factors affecting adoption. Household head decisions, land ownership, technology attributes, farmers’ groups and contact with extension agents were the most important factors influencing adoption of RSFMTs. The study recommends that active participation and involvement of smallholder farmers, improvement to stakeholder collaboration and more awareness and dissemination of information as regards smallholder agriculture are required in the promotion and adoption of agricultural-related technologies in Bolero EPA, if we are to improve smallholder agriculture to reach poverty reduction and food security objectives.