Z. Mbaga-semgalawe et H. Folmer, Household adoption behaviour of improved soil conservation: the case of the North Pare and West Usambara Mountains of Tanzania, LAND USE P, 17(4), 2000, pp. 321-336
The mountains in the northeastern part of Tanzania have been experiencing d
eclining soil fertility and severe soil erosion due to increased cultivatio
n and other factors attributed to population pressure. This study gives the
main results of an analysis of household adoption behaviour towards the us
e of improved soil conservation measures. An interdisciplinary analytical f
ramework for analyzing household adoption behaviour is presented. The frame
work links three components of the adoption decision process: the perceptio
n of the erosion problem, the decision to use improved conservation measure
s and the level of investment or effort devoted to soil conservation among
adopters. Data collected from a random sample of 300 heads of households wa
s used to estimate logit models of perception of the erosion problem and of
adoption of improved conservation measures, and a Poisson regression model
of effort devoted to conservation. The results show that participation in
promotional activities of soil and water conservation (SWC) programmes infl
uences the adoption decision process at all three stages. Also, ranking of
soil erosion as the priority problem in agricultural production, participat
ion in labour-sharing groups and having off-farm income influence the willi
ngness and ability to use improved soil conservation technologies and the l
evel of soil conservation effort. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights
reserved.