Determinants of Cashew Agroforestry Adoption Among Smallholder Farmers in the Gambia: Implications for Resilient Farming Systems
Article Sidebar
-
agroforestry adoption, cashew farming, smallholder farmers, logit regression, the Gambia
Abstract
Although agroforestry effectively addresses uncertainty, risk, and shocks, its adoption is slow among rural smallholder cashew farmers in the Gambia. This study investigates the factors influencing cashew agroforestry (AF) adoption through a household survey of 250 farmers from seven villages in the Kombo East District, West Coast Region. The adoption determinants were analyzed using a logit regression model and grouped into five categories: a) household preferences, b) resource endowment, c) risk and uncertainty, d) biophysical factors, and e) institutional factors. The study identified 28 factors, including demographics, experience, wealth, environmental threats, awareness, support, and climate change, as significantly influencing AF adoption. Despite recognizing the potential benefits of AF, farmers face constraints such as insufficient funds, poor-quality seedlings, limited extension services, lack of farmland, and low climate awareness. This study’s findings offer important insights for addressing the slow adoption of cashew AF in the Kombo East district, with potential relevance for similar regions in the Gambia and beyond. It offers insights for developing policies and programs to promote and accelerate AF adoption, enhance resilience in local farming systems, improve adaptive capacity, and provide diverse livelihood and socioeconomic benefits.
Full text article
References
Apuri, I., Peprah, K., & Achana, G. T. W. (2018). Climate change adaptation through agroforestry: The case of Kassena Nankana West District, Ghana. Environmental Development, 28, 3241. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envdev.2018.09.002
Arimi, K., & Omoare, A. (2021). Motivating cocoa farmers to adopt agroforestry practices for mitigating climate change. Renewable Agriculture and Food Systems, 36(6), 599604. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1742170521000223
Bekele, E., Abera, G., & Temesgen, H. (2024). Adoption and intensity influencing factors of agroforestry systems for mitigating land degradation (MLD) in Gilgel Gibe I catchment, southwestern Ethiopia. Cogent Food and Agriculture, 10(1), Article 2380782. https://doi.org/10.1080/23311932.2024.2380782
Coulibaly, J. Y., Chiputwa, B., Nakelse, T., & Kundhlande, G. (2017). Adoption of agroforestry and the impact on household food security among farmers in Malawi. Agricultural Systems, 155, 5269. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agsy.2017.03.017
Coyne, L., Kendall, H., Hansda, R., Reed, M. S., & Williams, D. J. L. (2021). Identifying economic and societal drivers of engagement in agri-environmental schemes for English dairy producers. Land Use Policy, 101, Article 105174.
Dawson, I. K., Leakey, R., Clement, C. R., Weber, J. C., Cornelius, J. P., Roshetko, J. M., Vinceti, B., Kalinganire, A., Tchoundjeu, Z., Masters, E., & Jamnadass, R. (2014). The management of tree genetic resources and the livelihoods of rural communities in the tropics: Non-timber forest products, smallholder agroforestry practices and tree commodity crops. Forest Ecology and Management, 333, 921. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2014.01.021
de Stefano, A., & Jacobson, M. G. (2018). Soil carbon sequestration in agroforestry systems: A meta-analysis. Agroforestry Systems, 92, 285299. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10457-017-0147-9
Djalilov, B. M., Khamzina, A., Hornidge, A. K., & Lamers, J. P. (2016). Exploring constraints and incentives for the adoption of agroforestry practices on degraded cropland in Uzbekistan. Journal of Environmental Planning and Management, 59(1), 142162. https://doi.org/10.1080/09640568.2014.996283
Dollinger, J., & Jose, S. (2018). Agroforestry for soil health. Agroforestry Systems, 92, 213219. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10457-018-0223-9
Feder, G., & Umali, D. L. (1993). The adoption of agricultural innovations: A review. Technological Forecasting and Social Change, 43(34), 215239. https://doi.org/10.1016/0040-1625(93)90053-A
Hu, Y., Li, B., Zhang, Z., & Wang, J. (2022). Farm size and agricultural technology progress: Evidence from China. Journal of Rural Studies, 93, 417429. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jrurstud.2019.01.009
Jha, S., Kaechele, H., & Sieber, S. (2021). Factors influencing the adoption of agroforestry by smallholder farmer households in Tanzania: Case studies from Morogoro and Dodoma. Land Use Policy, 103, Article 105308. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landusepol.2021.105308
Jost, C., Kyazze, F., Naab, J., Neelormi, S., Kinyangi, J., Zougmore, R., Aggarwal, P., Bhatta, G., Chaudhury, M., Tapio-Bisrom, M. -L., Nelson, S., & Kristjanson, P. (2016). Understanding gender dimensions of agriculture and climate change in smallholder farming communities. Climate and Development, 8(2), 133144. https://doi.org/10.1080/17565529.2015.1050978
Kassa, G. (2015). Profitability analysis and determinants of fruit tree based agroforestry system in Wondo District, Ethiopia. African Journal of Agricultural Research, 10(11), 12731280. https://doi.org/10.5897/AJAR2014.9272
Khan, A. U., Choudhury, M. A. R., Maleque, M. A., Dash, C. K., Talucder, M. S. A., Maukeeb, A. R. M., Ema, I. J., & Adnan, M. (2021). Management of insect pests and diseases of jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus L.) in agroforestry system: A review. Acta Entomology and Zoology, 2(1), 3746. https://doi.org/10.33545/27080013.2021.v2.i1a.29
Läpple, D., Renwick, A., & Thorne, F. (2015). Measuring and understanding the drivers of agricultural innovation: Evidence from Ireland. Food Policy, 51, 18. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodpol.2014.11.003
Lawin, K. G., & Tamini, L. D. (2019). Land tenure differences and adoption of agri-environmental practices: Evidence from Benin. The Journal of Development Studies, 55(2), 177190. https://doi.org/10.1080/00220388.2018.1443210
Mango, N., Makate, C., Tamene, L., Mponela, P., & Ndengu, G. (2017). Awareness and adoption of land, soil and water conservation practices in the Chinyanja Triangle, Southern Africa. International Soil and Water Conservation Research, 5(2), 122–129. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.iswcr.2017.04.003
Meinzen-Dick, R., Quisumbing, A., Doss, C., & Theis, S. (2019). Women’s land rights as a pathway to poverty reduction: Framework and review of available evidence. Agricultural Systems, 172, 72–82. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agsy.2017.10.009
Mponela, P., Tamene, L., Ndengu, G., Magreta, R., Kihara, J., & Mango, N. (2016). Determinants of integrated soil fertility management technologies adoption by smallholder farmers in the Chinyanja Triangle of Southern Africa. Land Use Policy, 59, 3848. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landusepol.2016.08.029
Mugure, A., Oino, P. G., & Sorre, B. M. (2013). Land ownership and its impact on adoption of agroforestry practices among rural households in Kenya: A case of Busia county. International Journal of Innovation and Applied Studies, 4(3), 552559.
Mugwe, J., Mugendi, D., Mucheru-Muna, M., Merckx, R., Chianu, J., & Vanlauwe, B. (2009). Determinants of the decision to adopt integrated soil fertility management practices by smallholder farmers in the central highlands of Kenya. Experimental Agriculture, 45(1), 6175. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0014479708007072
Muschler, R. G. (2016). Agroforestry: Essential for sustainable and climate-smart land use. Tropical Forestry hHandbook, 2, 20132116. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-54601-3_300
Mwase, W., Sefasi, A., Njoloma, J., Nyoka, B. I., Manduwa, D., & Nyaika, J. (2015). Factors affecting adoption of agroforestry and evergreen agriculture in Southern Africa. Environment and Natural Resources Research, 5(2), Article 148. https://doi.org/10.5539/enrr.v5n2p148
Ngila, V. M., Kweyu, R. M., & Mbuthia, S. W. (2024). Socio-economic drivers of agroforestry practices in Kaiti Watershed, Makueni County, Kenya. East African Journal of Forestry and Agroforestry, 7(1), 200214. https://doi.org/10.37284/eajfa.7.1.1957
Niane, A. F. N., Kini, R., Salau, S., & Chaherli, N. M. (2019). The Gambia agriculture engagement note: Fostering agriculture-led inclusive growth. Washington: World Bank Group. Retrieved from http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/814691560411931505
Norton, G. W., & Alwang, J. (2020). Changes in agricultural extension and implications for farmer adoption of new practices. Applied Economic Perspectives and Policy, 42(1), 8–20. https://doi.org/10.1002/aepp.13008
Nyoni, R. S., Bruelle, G., Chikowo, R., & Andrieu, N. (2024). Targeting smallholder farmers for climate information services adoption in Africa: A systematic literature review. Climate Services, 34, Article 100450. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cliser.2024.100450
Oduniyi, O. S., & Tekana, S. S. (2019). Adoption of agroforestry practices and climate change mitigation strategies in North West province of South Africa. International Journal of Climate Change Strategies and Management, 11(5), 716729. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJCCSM-02-2019-0009
Owombo, P. T., Idumah, F. O., & Adepoju, A. O. (2018). Analysis of farmers’ perception and adoption of agroforestry technology as climate change mitigation strategy in Edo State, Nigeria. World News of Natural Sciences, 21, 16–27.
Rege, A., & Lee, J. S. H. (2022). State-led agricultural subsidies drive monoculture cultivar cashew expansion in northern Western Ghats, India. PLoS ONE, 17, Article 0269092. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0269092
Rogers, E. M., Singhal, A., & Quinlan, M. M. (2014). Diffusion of innovations. In An integrated approach to communication theory and research (pp. 432448). Routledge.
Ruzzante, S., Labarta, R., & Bilton, A. (2021). Adoption of agricultural technology in the developing world: A meta-analysis of the empirical literature. World Development, 146, Article 105599. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.worlddev.2021.105599
Sanou, L., Savadogo, P., Ezebilo, E. E., & Thiombiano, A. (2019). Drivers of farmers’ decisions to adopt agroforestry: Evidence from the Sudanian savanna zone, Burkina Faso. Renewable Agriculture and Food Systems, 34(2), 116–133. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1742170517000369
Tafere, S. M., & Nigussie, Z. A. (2018). The adoption of introduced agroforestry innovations: Determinants of a high adoption rate–a case-study from Ethiopia. Forests Trees and Livelihoods, 27(3), 175–194. https://doi.org/10.1080/14728028.2018.1493954
Tambo, J. A., & Abdoulaye, T. (2013). Smallholder farmers’ perceptions of and adaptations to climate change in the Nigerian savanna. Regional Environmental Change, 13(2), 375–388. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10113-012-0351-0
Toth, J. M. (2007). Assessment of potential agroforestry systems for Kafuta: A village in the Western Division of the Gambia [theses]. Missoula: The University of Montana. Retrieved from https://scholarworks.umt.edu/etd/76
Toth, G. G., Nair, P. K. R., Jacobson, M., Widyaningsih, Y., & Duffy, C. P. (2019). Malawi’s energy needs and agroforestry: Impact of woodlots on fuelwood sales. Energy for Sustainable Development, 50, 101–108. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.esd.2019.02.006
Udimal, T. B., Jincai, Z. Mensah, O. S., & Caesar, A. E. (2017). Factors influencing the agricultural technology adoption: The case of improved rice varieties (Nerica) in the Northern Region, Ghana. Journal of Economics and Sustainable Development, 8(8), 137148.
Vihi, S. K., Adedire, O., & Ngu-Uma, B. K. (2019). Adoption of agroforestry practices among farmers in gwaram local government area of Jigawa State, Nigeria. Asian Journal of Research in Agriculture and Forestry, 4(4), 113. https://doi.org/10.9734/ajraf/2019/v4i430069
Wanjiku Kamau, J., Biber-Freudenberger, L., Lamers, J. P. A., Stellmacher, T., & Borgemeister, C. (2019). Soil fertility and biodiversity on organic and conventional smallholder farms in Kenya. Applied Soil Ecology, 134, 85–97. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apsoil.2018.10.020
Yokamo, S. (2020). Adoption of improved agricultural technologies in developing countries: Literature review. International Journal of Food Science and Agriculture, 4(2), 183–190. https://doi.org/10.26855/ijfsa.2020.06.010
Zerihun, M. F., Muchie, M., & Worku, Z. (2014). Determinants of agroforestry technology adoption in Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. Development Studies Research. An Open Access Journal, 1(1), 382394. https://doi.org/10.1080/21665095.2014.977454
Authors
Copyright (c) 2025 Jurnal Manajemen Hutan Tropika
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Jurnal Manajemen Hutan Tropika is an open access journal which means that all contents is freely available without charge to the user or his/her institution. Users are allowed to read, download, copy, distribute, print, search, or link to the full texts of the articles in this journal without asking prior permission from the publisher or the author. This is in accordance with the Budapest Open Access Initiative (BOAI) definition of open access.Article Details
How to Cite
