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  1. Article ; Online: Determinants of Simultaneous Use of Soil Fertility Information Sources among Smallholder Farmers in the Central Highlands of Kenya

    Asule, Pamellah A. / Musafiri, Collins / Nyabuga, George / Kiai, Wambui / Ngetich, Felix K. / Spurk, Christoph

    Agriculture. 2023 Aug. 31, v. 13, no. 9

    2023  

    Abstract: Soil fertility decline is a significant drawback to food and nutritional security in sub-Saharan Africa. However, information and knowledge barriers seriously impede the adoption, effective use, and scaling up of soil fertility management innovations, ... ...

    Abstract Soil fertility decline is a significant drawback to food and nutritional security in sub-Saharan Africa. However, information and knowledge barriers seriously impede the adoption, effective use, and scaling up of soil fertility management innovations, especially by smallholder farmers who produce the bulk of the region’s food needs. Apart from the knowledge that smallholder farmers seek soil fertility information from diverse sources, which they apply simultaneously, there is limited knowledge of farmers’ information-seeking behaviour regarding which sources are used simultaneously and the factors influencing these choices. We employed a cross-sectional survey study design to determine the simultaneous use of soil fertility information sources of 400 smallholder farming households in the Central Highlands of Kenya. We analysed the data using descriptive statistics, principal component analysis (PCA), and a multivariate probit model. The PCA distinguished seven categories of information sources farmers use: local interpersonal, cosmopolite interpersonal, aggregative, print/demonstration, broadcast media, community-based, and progressive learning sources. The intensity of use revealed that most of the smallholders used soil fertility information sources simultaneously and primarily as complements. The determinants of simultaneous use of soil fertility information sources were farmer location, marital status, main occupation, age, farming experience, exposure to agricultural training, group membership, arable land and livestock units owned, soil fertility status, soil fertility change, and soil testing. This study’s findings have implications for information dissemination strategies involving using multiple complementary sources of knowledge for improved soil health and productivity.
    Keywords agriculture ; arable soils ; cross-sectional studies ; descriptive statistics ; farmers ; food security ; information dissemination ; livestock ; marital status ; occupations ; principal component analysis ; probit analysis ; soil fertility ; soil quality ; Kenya
    Language English
    Dates of publication 2023-0831
    Publishing place Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute
    Document type Article ; Online
    ZDB-ID 2651678-0
    ISSN 2077-0472
    ISSN 2077-0472
    DOI 10.3390/agriculture13091729
    Database NAL-Catalogue (AGRICOLA)

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  2. Article: Determinants of Soil Fertility Information Needs and Access Among Smallholder Farmers in the Central Highlands of Kenya

    Asule, Pamellah A. / Musafiri, Collins M. / Nyabuga, George / Kiai, Wambui / Ngetich, Felix K. / Spurk, Christoph

    Communications in soil science and plant analysis. 2022 Aug. 22, v. 53, no. 15

    2022  

    Abstract: Soil fertility decline is a significant challenge to the agroecosystems in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Accurate and demand-driven soil fertility information is vital for improving agricultural production. We achieved two objectives, i) identifying soil ... ...

    Abstract Soil fertility decline is a significant challenge to the agroecosystems in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Accurate and demand-driven soil fertility information is vital for improving agricultural production. We achieved two objectives, i) identifying soil fertility information needs and access and ii) assessing socioeconomic determinants of soil fertility information needs and access among smallholder farmers in the central highlands of Kenya. We sampled 397 smallholder farming households in Murang’a and Tharaka-Nithi counties. We found high soil fertility information need indices among farmers in the two regions. The main soil fertility information needs for farmers in Murang’a County were knowing the correct method of manure application, knowing sources of information, and how to determine soil fertility levels. In Tharaka-Nithi County, farmers’ information priorities were how to apply conservation agriculture, knowing soil erosion control methods, and how to apply animal manure. We found mixed results on soil fertility information access ranging from low to high across different information items and study sites. The binary logistic regression results highlight the influence of farmer perceptions and other factors on soil fertility information need and access. To promote soil fertility information access, agricultural policies should consider site-specific information priorities and socioeconomic contexts.
    Keywords agricultural conservation practice ; agroecosystems ; animal manures ; erosion control ; farmers ; manure spreading ; plant analysis ; regression analysis ; soil erosion ; soil fertility ; Kenya
    Language English
    Dates of publication 2022-0822
    Size p. 1979-1998.
    Publishing place Taylor & Francis
    Document type Article
    ZDB-ID 419718-5
    ISSN 1532-2416 ; 0010-3624
    ISSN (online) 1532-2416
    ISSN 0010-3624
    DOI 10.1080/00103624.2022.2070190
    Database NAL-Catalogue (AGRICOLA)

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    In stock of ZB MED Bonn / Germany

    Z 2640: Show issues

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  3. Article ; Online: Farmers’ innovativeness and positive affirmation as main drivers of adoption of soil fertility management practices – evidence across sites in Africa

    Spurk, Christoph / Koch, Carmen / Bürgin, Reto / Chikopela, Louis / Konaté, Famagan / Nyabuga, George / Sarpong, Daniel Bruce / Sousa, Fernando / Fliessbach, Andreas

    2023  

    Abstract: Purpose: Declining soil fertility is worrying in sub-Saharan Africa. Various technologies serve to mitigate or rebuild soil fertility, but uptake by farmers, especially smallholders, is low. The study addresses this adoption problem in a novel way, ... ...

    Abstract Purpose: Declining soil fertility is worrying in sub-Saharan Africa. Various technologies serve to mitigate or rebuild soil fertility, but uptake by farmers, especially smallholders, is low. The study addresses this adoption problem in a novel way, assessing empirically many factors from various domains (economic, sociodemographic, individual, institutional, networks and information sources) to identify what drives adoption. Design/Methodology/Approach: The panel study used data from baseline and end line surveys with 1870 smallholders in Ghana, Kenya, Mali, and Zambia. Quantitative data were analysed simultaneously via logistic regression, complemented by qualitative interviews. The study demonstrates the advantage of panel studies, as they can measure changes in practice or in farmers’ attitudes. Findings: Individual factors, for example innovativeness, perception about soil fertility and correct knowledge, have the biggest influence on adoption. Socio-demographic and economic factors, by contrast, play hardly any role, as do individual information sources. Practical implications: Future research should focus on in-depth studies of individual factors, e.g. innovativeness and knowledge, and on the information environment of farmers. Communication efforts must primarily target innovative farmers, ensure high quality, address competing messages, and communicate through many different channels. Theoretical implications: The importance of ‘intrinsic’ factors that have previously been overlooked in adoption studies in SSA becomes clear. Originality/Value: The study is one of very few that empirically assesses a wide range of independent variables to identify the drivers of adoption. It reports not only significance but also effect sizes.
    Keywords Soil quality ; Systems research and participatory research ; Technology transfer ; Research communication and quality ; Africa ; Switzerland
    Subject code 330
    Language English
    Publishing country dk
    Document type Article ; Online
    Database BASE - Bielefeld Academic Search Engine (life sciences selection)

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  4. Book: Media and peacebuilding

    Spurk, Christoph

    concepts, actors and challenges

    (Working paper / Swiss Peace Foundation ; 2002,1)

    2002  

    Author's details Christoph Spurk
    Series title Working paper / Swiss Peace Foundation ; 2002,1
    Language English
    Size 50 S, graph. Darst
    Publisher Swisspeace
    Publishing place Bern
    Document type Book
    ISBN 3908230497 ; 9783908230496
    Database Former special subject collection: coastal and deep sea fishing

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    Order via subito

    This service is chargeable due to the Delivery terms set by subito. Orders including an article and supplementary material will be classified as separate orders. In these cases, fees will be demanded for each order.

    Inter-library loan at ZB MED

    Your chosen title can be delivered directly to ZB MED Cologne location if you are registered as a user at ZB MED Cologne.

  5. Conference proceedings ; Online: Dissemination and adoption of bottom-up agriculture to improve soil fertility in Africa

    Sousa, Fernando / Nicolay, Gian L. / Spurk, Christoph / Adamtey, Noah / Fliessbach, Andreas

    An interdisciplinary approach

    2018  

    Abstract: Soil fertility is at stake at a global scale, putting pressure on food security, poverty alleviation and environmental protection, under scenarios of climate change that in most cases aggravate the threat. In sub-Saharan Africa, a combination of depleted ...

    Abstract Soil fertility is at stake at a global scale, putting pressure on food security, poverty alleviation and environmental protection, under scenarios of climate change that in most cases aggravate the threat. In sub-Saharan Africa, a combination of depleted soils and population growth adds particular pressure to smallholder farmers and society. Their capacity to innovate in a social, economic, political and cultural context is seen as decisive to reverse the trend of declining soil fertility. However, many technologies with a potential to protect, maintain and build up soil fertility are hardly used by small-scale farmers, triggering the urgent question on their reasoning not to do so. Exploring and understanding the constraints and complexity of the social systems interacting with the implied institutional dynamics are essential steps in designing appropriate agricultural innovations that are scalable and adoptable. The focus of the inter- and transdisciplinary approach applied in the project ORM4Soil (Organic Resource Management for Soil Fertility; www.orm4soil.net) lies at the heart of this project. We are combining qualitative and quantitative methods from agronomy, sociology and communication sciences in order to bring soil-fertility-enhancing-technologies and their adoption to the center of the decision-making process of farmers’ as well as local and regional institutions. At local and regional innovation platforms, stakeholders from business, government, academia and farmer organizations are discussing the outcomes of agronomic trials and sociological research. We are expecting to create bridges between the needs and concerns of farmers, relevant segments of society and policymaking, with the new common goal to enhance soil fertility.
    Keywords Soil ; Education ; extension and communication ; Knowledge management
    Subject code 910
    Language English
    Publishing country dk
    Document type Conference proceedings ; Online
    Database BASE - Bielefeld Academic Search Engine (life sciences selection)

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