Effect of farm size on adoption of sustainable intensification practices

Abstract

The Data for the study was obtained from the world bank micro database of the UNPS which was collected by the UBOS in 2013-14. The study had a sample space of 3119 respondents. The main objective of the study was to examine the effect of farm size on the adoption of sustainable intensification practices in Uganda. The study further developed specific objectives which were; to determine the level of adoption of sustainable intensification practices, characterise farmers by adoption of sustainable intensification practices and determine the factors affecting level of adoption of sustainable intensification practices. The results revealed that most household head were males 2124/3119 (68.1%) and females accounted for only 31.9%. The average age of household head was about 47±16, average household size was 5±2.8 members, the average acreage owned by farmers was approximately 2 acres (1.58±2.94) and the average number of extension visits was approximately 1 time. The number of farmers that adopted the use of fertilizer was 356/3119 (11.41%), 323 (10.36%) farmers adopted use of pesticides and majority of the farmers practices crop rotation as compared to other sustainable intensive practices (fertilizer and pesticide use). 1005/ 3119 (32.22%) of farmers were practicing crop rotation. Factors that significantly affected the level of adoption of crop rotation, fertilizer and pesticide use included; marital status, household size, and number of extension visits, education level and region. More efforts are required to increase the level of adoption of SIPs through addressing the factors that significantly affect the adoption of sustainable intensification practices