Adoption factors of conservation agriculture for sustainable farming in southern Zambia

Abstract

The study investigates the factors influencing the adoption of conservation agriculture (CA) among smallholder farmers in the Livingstone District, Southern Zambia, with a focus on promoting sustainability and resilience in farm production. Utilizing a regression model, the analysis identified six significant covariates impacting the adoption of CA practices. Notably, access to extension services emerged as a critical factor, exhibiting an odds ratio of 13.94, indicating that farmers with better access to these services are substantially more likely to adopt conservation agriculture. Other significant factors included the decision-maker within the household (odds ratio of 3.11), gender (6.26), number of dependents (3.27), frequency of extension services received (4.95), and the number of training sessions attended (2.06). The findings suggest that the determinants affecting CA adoption are diverse and context-specific; therefore, enhancing government extension services in Zambia could play a vital role in facilitating greater adoption rates among smallholder farmers. This research highlights the importance of tailored support mechanisms in fostering sustainable agricultural practices and enhancing resilience in farming systems within the region.