Adoption and welfare effects of integrated soil fertility management technologies among smallholder maize and pigeon pea farmers in Tanzania

Abstract

This study analyzed farmer adoption of integrated soil fertility management (ISFM) and its impact on household welfare in Babati district, Tanzania. Cross-sectional survey data collected from a random sample of 500 maize and pigeonpea farmers in Babati district was used. Data were collected through face to face interviews using a semistructured questionnaire. In this study, an adopter of ISFM was defined as the farmer household using at least 50% of the ISFM package including at least one improved crop variety and one type of fertilizer. The study used a probit regression model to quantify the determinants of adoption of ISFM whereas the impact of adoption were estimated using a propensity score matching technique. Results showed that 49.4% of maize and pigeon pea farmers in Babati district used ISFM technologies. Results of the probit regression analysis showed that household size, value of livestock owned, value of household assets, farm size, agricultural training and access to credit (P<0.05), education of the household head and extension services (p<0.1) increased farmer adoption to ISFM. However, participation in off-farm activities (P<0.05) reduced the likelihood of adoption of ISFM. The welfare effects of adoption showed that ISFM can generate sizeable gains in maize and pigeon peas yields, and increase household per capita consumption and food security status of adopting households in the study area (P<0.05). This study revealed that adoption of ISFM can increase welfare of smallholder farmers in Tanzania. There is need to strengthen agricultural extension services through agricultural training on ISFM. Further, it is vital that farmer access to ISFM package is increased and improved through access to affordable credit subsidies on agricultural inputs.