FACTORS INFLUENCING THE ADOPTION OF LAND CONSERVING
TECHNOLOGIES: THE CASE OF SHIRE HIGHANDS IN MALAWI
A. K Edriss1, F. Gondwe and M.M.A. Mphepo
ABSTRACT
Land degradation is very high in Malawi with erosion rates at more than
double the threshold value. Conservation efforts started as early as early
as 1902. This study was aimed at finding the perceptions of farmers on
land degradation and factors influencing adoption of soil conserving
technologies. The research was conducted at Farming Systems Integrated
Pest Management (FSIPM) Project sites. The FSIPM Project sites were
Mombezi and Matapwata Extension Planning Areas (EPAS) in Chiradzulu
and Thyolo Districts, respectively, in the Blantyre/Shire Highlands Rural
Development Project (RDP) located in Blantyre Agricultural Development
Division, Malawi.
Data collection was carried out using three methodologies: interviewing
household heads using a structured questionnaire, conducting Focus
Group Discussions (FGD) and taking field measurements. Of the total 672
households for the study area, a total of 60 farmers were then randomly
selected and interviewed of which half were selected from the farmers
that had hill slope gardens.
The study revealed that farmers perceived that soil fertility loss is more
serious than soil erosion. However, their soil fertility practices are not
adequate to maintain a health crop up to maturity. It was therefore
concluded that farmers need technical assistance to explain adequacy and
limitations of the various soil fertility practices especially the organic
fertility practices being promoted. The study also revealed that, although
farmers use various erosion control practices they have serious soil erosion
problems. It was found that most of the physical structures that farmers
use to control erosion were poorly made and maintained. Since farmers are
still experiencing erosion problems, it was therefore concluded that farmers
require technical help in constructing physical soil conservation measures.
On the factors of adoption, farmers will adopt soil conserving technologies
where they are experiencing high soil erosion, when they have few fields,
when their social status is high and when they are not very poor.
1
University of Malawi, Bunda College of Agriculture, Department of Rural Development
, P.O. Box 219, Lilongwe, Malawi