Adoption

Validating a novel genetic technology for hybrid maize seed production under management practices associated with resource-poor farmers in Zimbabwe

Understanding the performance of new genetic technologies in farmers' realworld realities, especially those relevant to resource-poor farmers, is often overlooked but is essential to ensure equitable benefits. A new genetic technology was developed …

Towards inclusive mechanization? Two-wheel tractor-based service markets in Ethiopia, Burkina Faso, and Zimbabwe

Purpose – African agricultural mechanization could lead to a mechanization divide, where only large farms have access to machines. Technological solutions such as scale-appropriate machines and institutional solutions like service markets offer hope …

Is agricultural lime a profitable investment for African smallholders? Evidence from Rwanda

Soil acidity is a major constraint to crop production in tropical regions. Although agricultural lime is one option to remediate acid soils, there is limited information on the potential returns on investments to liming by smallholders. Using survey …

Risk aversion, impatience, and adoption of conservation agriculture practices among smallholders in Zambia

Sustainable agricultural practices such as conservation agriculture have been promoted in southern Africa for nearly three decades, but their adoption remains low. It is of policy interest to unpack behavioural drivers of adoption to understand why …

Scaling agricultural mechanization services in smallholder farming systems; Case studies from sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, and Latin America

There is great untapped potential for farm mechanization to support rural development initiatives in low- and middle-income countries. As technology transfer of large machinery from high-income countries was ineffective during the 1980s and 90s, …

Agricultural mechanization and reduced tillage: antagonism or synergy?

This paper reviews agricultural mechanization and reduced tillage use in the context of sustainable intensification in developing country agriculture. The scoping review includes selected and contrasting cases - including Zimbabwe (manual systems), …

The role of mechanization in transformation of smallholder agriculture in Southern Africa Experience from Zimbabwe

Labour is increasingly constraining productivity of farming systems in Southern Africa, and the adoption of sustainable intensification is likely to compound the problem. Mechanization based on the use of small engines - such as multipurpose …

Affordances of agricultural systems analysis tools: A review and framework to enhance tool design and implementation

The increasingly complex challenges facing agricultural systems require problem-solving processes and systems analysis (SA) tools that engage multiple actors across disciplines. In this article, we employ the theory of affordances to unravel what …

Complementary practices supporting conservation agriculture in southern Africa. A review

Conservation agriculture (CA) 'the simultaneous application of minimum soil disturbance, crop residue retention, and crop diversification' is a key approach to address declining soil fertility and the adverse effects of climate change in southern …

Ecological intensification; local innovation to address global challenges

The debate on future global food security is centered on increasing yields. This focus on availability of food is overshadowing access and utilization of food, and the stability of these over time. In addition, pleas for increasing yields across the …