FACTORS INFLUENCING THE ADOPTION OF SOIL CONSERVATION PRACTICES ON COMMERCIAL FARMS IN KWAZULU - NATAL

G. R. Barlow, W. L. Nieuwoudt and J. B. Levin

Agrekon, 1995, vol. 34, issue 3

Abstract: A multi-stage adoption-decision process is modelled to isolate factors influencing commercial fanners' decisions to implement soil conservation measures. The models are estimated using logistic regression analysis, and represent fanners' awareness of erosion occurring, perceptions that it is a problem worth resolving, and technical and financial abilities to implement appropriate soil conservation measures. Data were collected from five different commercial farming regions in KwaZulu - Natal. Results show visible erosion impacts, formal agricultural education, and perceptions reflecting the seriousness of erosion's impacts on the environment, positively influence awareness. Fanners investing their own capital when implementing soil conservation measures, and those doing this with no outside technical assistance are more likely to perceive erosion as worth resolving. Knowledge of erosion's adverse implications for agricultural productivity and the importance of extension officers for providing information on erosion and conservation decisions also influence this stage positively. Those with the technical ability to implement and maintain conservation measures regularly attend soil conservation courses, and help others implement conservation practices. Inadequate technical skills to implement soil conservation measures appears to be a major constraining factor within the adoption process. Financial ability is positively influenced by farmers' willingness to invest their own capital in conservation measures, larger proportions of fann area under crops, and perceptions reflecting on-farm financial and managerial benefits from soil conservation. Government expenditure should perhaps be targeted at extension programs to improve farmers' technical abilities to implement conservation practices, and at education and research that emphasises individual benefits of soil conservation.

Keywords: Environmental Economics and Policy; Land Economics/Use (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 1995
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

Downloads: (external link)
https://ageconsearch.umn.edu/record/267802/files/02-Barlow.pdf (application/pdf)
https://ageconsearch.umn.edu/record/267802/files/02-Barlow.pdf?subformat=pdfa (application/pdf)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:ags:agreko:267802

DOI: 10.22004/ag.econ.267802

Access Statistics for this article

More articles in Agrekon from Agricultural Economics Association of South Africa (AEASA) Contact information at EDIRC.
Bibliographic data for series maintained by AgEcon Search ().