Browsing by Author "Mzingula Emmanuel P."

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    Influence of communication channels on sustained adoption of climate-smart agricultural technologies in the West Usambara Mountains, Tanzania
    (Sokoine University of Agriculture, 2023-12-26) Mzingula Emmanuel P.; Massawe Fatihiya A.; Salanga Raymond J.
    Climate change has been reducing agricultural production, especially cereals, potatoes and vegetables in the West Usambara Mountains. One approach for farmers to increase crop productivity in the West Usambara Mountains is to adopt Climate-Smart Agricultural (CSA) technologies. From 2011 to 2019, the Climate Change Agriculture and Food Security (CCAFS) project employed different communication channels to promote CSA technologies such as terraces, tree planting, organic fertilizers, improved seeds and weather information services. Understanding the influence of communication channels on the sustained adoption of CSA technologies is essential to decision-makers and extension workers. This study assessed the influence of communication channels on the sustained adoption of CSA technologies. A cross-sectional research design was adopted whereby a sample of 124 households was chosen by using simple random sampling from 140 farming households which participated in the CCAFS project. Data were collected by using household surveys, key informant interviews and focus group discussions. Analysis of quantitative data was conducted by using the Multivariate Probit Model through STATA software version 17 while thematic analysis was done for qualitative data. Results show that mobile phone contacts had a positive significant influence on the sustained adoption of tree planting and terraces. Farmers' meetings had a positive significant influence on the sustained adoption of weather information services, tree planting and terraces. Farmer-extensionist contacts had a positive significant influence on the sustained adoption of weather information services, improved seeds, organic fertilizers and terraces. Farmer-researcher contacts had a positive significant influence on the sustained adoption of improved seeds. Demonstration farms had a positive significant influence on the sustained adoption of weather information services. This study concludes that communication channels are information pathways useful in promoting the sustainable adoption of CSA technologies in the study area. This study recommends that agricultural stakeholders including policymakers and extension workers should incorporate communication channels when promoting post-project adoption of CSA technologies and designing future sustainable CSA interventions since they are important information pathways to farmers.
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    Influence of perceived climate change-related factors on sustained adoption of climate-smart agricultural technologies in the West Usambara Mountains, Tanzania
    (The sub Saharan Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities (SJSSH), 2023-08-26) Mzingula Emmanuel P.; Massawe Fatihiya A.; Salanga Raymond J.
    In the West Usambara Mountains Tanzania, crop production is highly challenged by climate change and variability due to farmers’ dependence on rainfall and the use of poor technologies. Between 2011 and 2019, the Climate Change Agriculture and Food Security (CCAFS) was implemented to promote the adoption of Climate-Smart Agricultural (CSA) technologies in the West Usambara Mountains. Understanding farmers’ perceptions of climate change can enhance participation and adoption of sustainability of CSA technologies when the project is phased out. This study assessed the influence of perceived climate change-related factors on the sustained adoption of CSA technologies at the end of the CCAFs project. A cross-sectional research design was conducted by involving 124 households selected by simple random sampling from 140 farming households which received CSA interventions. Primary data were collected through household questionnaire survey, key informant interviews and focus group discussions while secondary data was obtained from the Tanzania Meteorological Authority. Data analysis employed STATA software version 17 to run the Multivariate Probit Regression model for quantitative data while content analysis was employed for qualitative data. Results show that a perceived increase in pests and diseases had a positive significant influence on the sustained adoption of tree planting and weather information. Increased floods had a positive significant influence on the sustained adoption of terraces and tree planting. Unpredictable rainfall had a positive significant influence on the sustained adoption of organic fertilizers and weather information. Increased droughts had a positive significant influence on the sustained adoption of organic fertilizers and improved seeds. The increased temperature had a positive significant influence on the sustained adoption of weather information. It is concluded that farmers’ perceptions of climate change are important to enhance the sustainable adoption of CSA technologies. It is recommended that policymakers and other stakeholders incorporate farmers’ perceptions of climate change when reviewing post-project interventions and designing new projects to enhance participation, sustainability of adoption of CSA technologies and improve crop productivity.