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The study was conducted in Uttar Pradesh, India to assess the relationship between ICT tools and socio-economic variables of farmers. The ex-post-facto research design and multi-stage random sample technique were used. The data was collected through personal interviews with farmers. The total sample size of the study was 120 farmers. The study data were analyzed with correlation, multiple regression, and path analysis. The coefficient of determination (R2) revealed that 79.90 per cent of the total variation in the utilization of ICT tools by the farmers was explained by the selected independent variables. The path analysis was used to assess the total effect, which was decomposed into direct, indirect, and residual effects. The variable education (0.358) exerted the highest direct effect, while the total indirect effect of extension contact (0.493) was on the utilization of ICT tools by the farmers. The residual effect was 0.201, which means that 20.10 per cent of the variance could not be explained due to exogenous variables. Overall, the study suggests that education and extension contact are crucial factors that affect the utilization of ICT tools by farmers in Uttar Pradesh for agricultural purposes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study was conducted with a sample of 120 sericulture farmers in Kamrup district of Assam in three development blocks viz. Bongaon, Boko and Chayani Borduwa. The study revealed that majority (43.33%) of the respondents belonged to middle age group, 36.67% were illiterate, 45.83% belonged to small size family and 69.17% had pucca house. In case of operational land holding majority (34.17%) of the respondents possessed small size of land holding, 33.95% had annual income ranging from Rs.75,001-1,00,000, 75.00% had medium level of extension contact, 61.67% had moderate level of risk bearing ability, 59.17% had moderate level of decision-making ability and only 23.33% had received training. Most of the respondents (35.00%) practiced "Sericulture +paddy+plantation crops" followed by "Sericulture+paddy+piggery" (15.83%) and "Sericulture+paddy+fruits" (12.50%) as their livelihood options. Education, family size, house type, operational land holding risk bearing ability and decisionmaking ability have significant relationship on livelihood options. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adoption of improved agricultural technologies can help achieve the two Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of no poverty and zero hunger by 2030. This study investigates the determinants of farmers' adoption of hand tractors in the HKH region of Pakistan using binary logit model. We also examine what facilitates and what impedes the adoption of hand tractor adoption using key informant interviews. Results show that household head education, farming experience, knowledge of hand tractor use, access to credit, extension contact, and trust in technology positively affect the adoption of hand tractor; however farm size is negatively related. The findings reveal that ethnic conflicts, political conflicts, elite capture in decision making, unavailability of functional community-based entities, weak extension-farmers contact, as well as weak inter- and intra-community linkages are key barriers affecting hand tractor adoption. Similarly, observed changes on neighbors’ fields, experiencing hand tractor on trial basis, communication networks, risk observations, and trust propensities motivate hand tractor adoption in the study region. Thus, to effectively disseminate improved agricultural technologies, policymakers should consider these factors.

The study was conducted with a sample of 120 sericulture farmers in Kamrup district of Assam in three development blocks viz. Bongaon, Boko and Chayani Borduwa. The study revealed that majority (43.33%) of the respondents belonged to middle age group, 36.67% were illiterate, 45.83% belonged to small size family and 69.17% had pucca house. In case of operational land holding majority (34.17%) of the respondents possessed small size of land holding, 33.95% had annual income ranging from Rs.75,001-1,00,000, 75.00% had medium level of extension contact, 61.67% had moderate level of risk bearing ability, 59.17% had moderate level of decision-making ability and only 23.33% had received training. Most of the respondents (35.00%) practiced “Sericulture +paddy+plantation crops” followed by “Sericulture+paddy+piggery" (15.83%) and “Sericulture+paddy+fruits” (12.50%) as their livelihood options. Education, family size, house type, operational land holding risk bearing ability and decision-making ability have significant relationship on livelihood options.

Growing concerns about the environmental costs of agricultural production have given new impetus to the promotion of sustainable agricultural production technologies that can reduce soil erosion and the excessive use of agricultural chemicals. Although numerous policies have been implemented to popularize soil testing and formulated fertilization technologies in China, the diffusion of the technology among large-scale farmers (LSFs) has been addressed only rarely. We used a two-stage controlled function model to control for endogeneity and selection bias in contacting extension staff to assess the effect of an extension contact on technology adoption behavior by LSFs, Propensity Score Matching techniques are also utilized to analyze the effects of extension contact on the rice yields and nutrient use amount. Empirical results from Jiangsu and Jiangxi provinces show that extension contact plays a crucial role in promoting soil testing and the adoption of formulated fertilization technologies; LSFs' adoption raises rice yields, however, the impact of extension contact on reducing nutrient use amount does not pass the significance test. The findings add to the theoretical literature on technology extension, and we used them to suggest policies to encourage tailored agricultural extension systems by constructing rural technological extension networks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aimed to examine the determinants of farmland degradation in the West Guji Zone. The study employed data collected in 2020 from a sample of 385 farm households selected using a simple random sampling technique. An ordered probit model was run to examine the association of explanatory variables with the severity of farmland degradation. Farm plot assessment results indicate that most farm plots were categorized as slightly degraded, followed by moderate, non-degraded, and severe degradation statuses. The study indicated that the main causes of farmland degradation were intensive cultivation without fallow, deforestation, high precipitation, overgrazing, steep slopes, and wind. The ordered probit results revealed that age of household heads, number of plots, and slope of the farmland positively and significantly influenced the severity of farmland degradation, while sex of household heads, soil conservation status, family size, education, land-to-labor ratio, and extension contact were negatively and significantly associated with the severity of farmland degradation. Therefore, the study suggests the provision of training to farming households, promotion of cost-effective modern feed resources and homemade biogas, implementation of a participatory management approach, scaling-up existing land management practices, ensuring the sustainability of natural resource use, and a close linkage between farmers and extension agents to minimize farmland degradation.

This paper aimed to examine the determinants of farmland degradation in the West Guji Zone. The study employed data collected in 2020 from a sample of 385 farm households selected using a simple random sampling technique. An ordered probit model was run to examine the association of explanatory variables with the severity of farmland degradation. Farm plot assessment results indicate that most farm plots were categorized as slightly degraded, followed by moderate, non-degraded, and severe degradation statuses. The study indicated that the main causes of farmland degradation were intensive cultivation without fallow, deforestation, high precipitation, overgrazing, steep slopes, and wind. The ordered probit results revealed that age of household heads, number of plots, and slope of the farmland positively and significantly influenced the severity of farmland degradation, while sex of household heads, soil conservation status, family size, education, land-to-labor ratio, and extension contact were negatively and significantly associated with the severity of farmland degradation. Therefore, the study suggests the provision of training to farming households, promotion of cost-effective modern feed resources and homemade biogas, implementation of a participatory management approach, scaling-up existing land management practices, ensuring the sustainability of natural resource use, and a close linkage between farmers and extension agents to minimize farmland degradation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agricultural Extension Services (AES) aim to improve farming knowledge that helps in increasing crop production and the technical efficiency of paddy farmers in Bangladesh. The purposes of this study are to measure the impact of an AES, namely, the Blue Gold programme, on the technical efficiency and production level of the Boro paddy farmers in southwest rural Bangladesh. A total of 122 paddy farmers were interviewed, employing a random sampling method. To analyse the technical efficiency of the farmers, the Cobb-Douglas stochastic frontier model was employed. The findings show that the mean technical efficiency levels of the participants and non-participants are 95% and 82%, producing 162.74 and 136.48 maunds per hectare, respectively. The findings are indispensable for devising strategies for environment-friendly agricultural activities and rural economic development in Bangladesh.

Growing concerns about the environmental costs of agricultural production have given new impetus to the promotion of sustainable agricultural production technologies that can reduce soil erosion and the excessive use of agricultural chemicals. Although numerous policies have been implemented to popularize soil testing and formulated fertilization technologies in China, the diffusion of the technology among large-scale farmers (LSFs) has been addressed only rarely. We used a two-stage controlled function model to control for endogeneity and selection bias in contacting extension staff to assess the effect of an extension contact on technology adoption behavior by LSFs, Propensity Score Matching techniques are also utilized to analyze the effects of extension contact on the rice yields and nutrient use amount. Empirical results from Jiangsu and Jiangxi provinces show that extension contact plays a crucial role in promoting soil testing and the adoption of formulated fertilization technologies; LSFs’ adoption raises rice yields, however, the impact of extension contact on reducing nutrient use amount does not pass the significance test. The findings add to the theoretical literature on technology extension, and we used them to suggest policies to encourage tailored agricultural extension systems by constructing rural technological extension networks.

In the Guji Zone, even though cereal crop production volume has shown an increasing trend by 100.5% between 2011 and 2020, the proportion of cereal crops that are marketed has declined by 12.9% during the same years. This study was designed to analyze determinants of cereal crop commercialization in the Guji Zone. The study used cross-sectional data collected in 2019 from a sample of 288 farm households. The study showed that farmers in the Guji Zone were semi-commercially oriented in the cereal crops output market with an average level of cereal crops commercialization of 48.33%. The ordered probit model result revealed that the level of cereal crops commercialization was significantly explained by sex of the household heads, ownership of equines, cultivated land size, the frequency of extension contact, credit use, the value of crops produced, and household’s medium perception about lagged crop price. Thus, the level of cereal crops commercialization can be improved by increasing the frequency of extension contact, agricultural credit supply at low cost, and use of strategies that promote intensive agriculture such as warranting of the availability of modern agro-inputs at affordable prices, and promotion of the adoption and use of modern agro-inputs by farm households.

In the Guji Zone, even though cereal crop production volume has shown an increasing trend by 100.5% between 2011 and 2020, the proportion of cereal crops that are marketed has declined by 12.9% during the same years. This study was designed to analyze determinants of cereal crop commercialization in the Guji Zone. The study used cross-sectional data collected in 2019 from a sample of 288 farm households. The study showed that farmers in the Guji Zone were semi-commercially oriented in the cereal crops output market with an average level of cereal crops commercialization of 48.33%. The ordered probit model result revealed that the level of cereal crops commercialization was significantly explained by sex of the household heads, ownership of equines, cultivated land size, the frequency of extension contact, credit use, the value of crops produced, and household's medium perception about lagged crop price. Thus, the level of cereal crops commercialization can be improved by increasing the frequency of extension contact, agricultural credit supply at low cost, and use of strategies that promote intensive agriculture such as warranting of the availability of modern agro-inputs at affordable prices, and promotion of the adoption and use of modern agro-inputs by farm households. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The impacts of extension contact on income of farmers have been examined with a view to evaluate the agricultural extension services in Bangladesh. The scope of the study was ten villages of Gazipur of Bangladesh. The objective of the study is to identify the effect of extension contact on crop income, livestock income, fisheries income, miscellaneous income, total agricultural income, nonagricultural income and total income of farmers. The sample of the study consists of 1000 farmers. Data came from field survey and multistage random sampling technique was used for the collection of data. The results indicated that the impacts of extension contact coefficients on crop income, nonagricultural income are positive and significant. However, the impacts of extension contact coefficients are not significant in the cases of livestock, fisheries, miscellaneous and agricultural incomes. But it does not mean that agricultural extension has no reward in Bangladesh. The sample data indicates that the impact of extension contact on total income of farmers is positive and significant. The study concludes that agricultural extension is necessary to raise the income of farmers.

The focus of the study was to measure knowledge level of men and women farmers on cultivation of little millet in Haveri district of Karnataka. The stratified sampling technique was employed to select 120 respondents comprising equal number of men and women farmers from four villages. The data was obtained through personal interview method using pre-tested schedule. Study revealed that less than half of the men farmers (40.00%) and 38.33 per cent of women farmers was found in high and low knowledge level of little millet cultivation practice, respectively. Majority of men farmers (91.67%) and 79.17 per cent of the women farmers had knowledge about application of farm yard manure (FYM) followed by seed cum fertilizer drill method of sowing (88.33 and 86.67%), number of inter cultivation (86.67 and 85.00%), sowing time (70.00 and 56.67%), hand weeding (63.33 and 68.33%), inter row spacing (60.00 and 61.67%), seed rate (56.67 and 45.00%), respectively. Knowledge level of little millet growers was significant association with extension contact and other independent variables such as age, education level, family size, livestock size, extension participation and organization participation were found non significant association with knowledge level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated constraints to extension contact with women farmers in Enugu State. Two hundred and thirty eight respondents consisting of 92 ApP staff and 146 women farmers selected through multi -stage sampling technique were involved. Questionnaire and interview schedule were used for data collection and the analytical fool employed was factor analysis. Specific factors identified as limiting extension contact with Women farmers in Enugu State include: lack of technical competence of ADP extension staff a(rd poor recommendation domain participation from the extension workers' perspective while the women gave technological incompatibility and inadequate logistic support as factors.

Adoption of improved agricultural technologies can help achieve the two Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of no poverty and zero hunger by 2030. This study investigates the determinants of farmers' adoption of hand tractors in the HKH region of Pakistan using binary logit model. We also examine what facilitates and what impedes the adoption of hand tractor adoption using key informant interviews. Results show that household head education, farming experience, knowledge of hand tractor use, access to credit, extension contact, and trust in technology positively affect the adoption of hand tractor; however farm size is negatively related. The findings reveal that ethnic conflicts, political conflicts, elite capture in decision making, unavailability of functional community-based entities, weak extension-farmers contact, as well as weak inter- and intra-community linkages are key barriers affecting hand tractor adoption. Similarly, observed changes on neighbors' fields, experiencing hand tractor on trial basis, communication networks, risk observations, and trust propensities motivate hand tractor adoption in the study region. Thus, to effectively disseminate improved agricultural technologies, policymakers should consider these factors., (© 2023 The Authors.)

The study examined the poverty status of bee-farmers in two ecological zones of Kwara State, Nigeria with modern bee-keeping farmers as a case study. Primary data subjected to a pre-survey which involved structured questionnaire and interview schedule were administered using multistage random technique to selected 80 bee farmers in the two ecological zones. Sixty five percent of bee farmers earned at least ₦25,000 per annum each and averaged ₦30,800 from bee production. This shows positive contribution to bee household's welfare. Majority of the pooled farmers (75%) had subsidiary occupations with average yearly off-farm income of ₦35,600. This shows that the rural farmers have developed capacity to cope with increasing vulnerability associated with apicultural practices by diversification and migration. The result of logit regression revealed that years of experience; level of education; adjusted household size; number of hives; bee income and non-bee income were found to be significant in poverty determinants of bee farmers. The Foster-Greer-Thorbecke index analysis estimated a poverty line of ₦236.50 (US$1.48) per household head per day. The results revealed that improvement in level of training, amount of credit accessed and increasing number of hives invested were inversely related to poverty status of bee farmers. The results also showed prevalence of poverty among rural bee households that utilized open spaces for disposing their faeces, stream water for drinking and local lamp for lightening compared to bee farmers that utilized pit toilets, well water or boreholes and electricity respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined farmers' information seeking and utilization pattern on seeds and planting materials in Lagos and Ogun States. A total of 220 farmers were selected through a multistage random sampling method and interviewed using a structured questionnaire. Farmers were exposed to many sources of information on seeds and planting materials, but their use in decreasing order of preference was as follows: family member (87.3%), extension agents (86.4%), agricultural development projects (76.4%), neighbors (75.9%), contact farmers (most innovative farmer in an extension circle) (71.8%), friends/peers (67.7%), radio jingles (56.4%), and sales agent (50%). Farmers were aware of and used information on hybrids of maize (96.4%), cassava (94.6%), yam (88.2%), okra (88.2%), melon (81.8%), pepper (86.8%), tomatoes (87.7%), and vegetables (80.9%). Significant determinants of information seeking were age (t = 2.46), educational level (t = 2.57), farming experience (t = 2.65), family size (t = 1.70), credibility of source of information (t = 2.93), language of instruction (t = 1.80), and organization membership (t = 1.86). Significant determinants of information utilization were age (t = -2.13), educational level (t = 3.14), family size (t = 2.12) and extension contact (t = -1.71). The results suggest the relevance of use of improved seeds and planting materials among farmers. They also suggest the relevance of the characteristics of information sources as drivers of use of improved seeds and planting materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]