Prospects and constraints in smallholder farmers' adoption of multiple soil carbon enhancing practices in Western Kenya

George Magambo Kanyenji; Willis Oluoch-Kosura; Cecilia Moraa Onyango; Stanley Karanja Ng'ang'a

doi:10.1016/j.heliyon.2020.e03226

Prospects and constraints in smallholder farmers' adoption of multiple soil carbon enhancing practices in Western Kenya

Heliyon. 2020 Mar 12;6(3):e03226. doi: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2020.e03226. eCollection 2020 Mar.

Authors

George Magambo Kanyenji¹, Willis Oluoch-Kosura¹, Cecilia Moraa Onyango², Stanley Karanja Ng'ang'a³

Affiliations

¹ Department of Agricultural Economics, University of Nairobi, P.O. Box 29053-00625, Kangemi, Nairobi, Kenya.
² Department of Plant Science and Crop Protection, University of Nairobi, P.O. Box 29053-00625, Kangemi, Nairobi, Kenya.
³ International Center for Tropical Agriculture, P.O Box 6247, Kampala, Uganda.

Abstract

Most smallholder farmers in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) are adversely affected by low soil fertility, land degradation and climate change-related shocks such as drought. These problems lead to low productivity and low household income. In addition, the adoption of soil carbon enhancing practices remains low in Western Kenya. This study analyses the factors that influence the probability and extent of adoption of soil carbon enhancing practices in Western Kenya utilizing plot-level information, socioeconomic characteristics and external supporting factors. Multivariate probit model and generalized ordered logit were utilized to assess the adoption of multiple soil carbon enhancing practices and the extent of adoption respectively. Results indicate that the adoption of soil carbon enhancing practices is correlated, suggesting interrelation in farmers' adoption decisions. Both the multivariate probit model and generalized ordered probit results indicate that the probability and extent of adoption of soil carbon enhancing practices are influenced by plot-level characteristics, literacy level, access to agricultural credit, agricultural group membership, participation in the market, and gender of the household.

Keywords: Agricultural economics; Agricultural policy; Agricultural soil science; Agricultural technology; Agriculture; Carbon sequestration; Economics; Environmental economics; Environmental science; Generalized ordered logit; Multivariate probit; Soil fertility; Soil organic carbon.