ABSTRACT

Sustainable agricultural technologies have impacted positively on staple crop yields in Asia and some parts of Sub-Sahara Africa. However, the adoption of similar technologies in vegetable subsector is still low among small-scale farmers in Tanzania. Several efforts aimed at promoting the adoption of the technologies such as improved vegetable varieties, mineral fertilizers, manure and pest management practices to raise output, have not yielded the desired impacts. We examine dynamics of farmers’ adoption of these technologies and the factors influencing technology choice. We also predict the peak level and speed of adoption of these sustainable technologies. Findings show that complementarities exist among improved varieties, fertilizers and pest management practices, while tradeoffs exist between manure and mineral fertilizers. These complementarities and tradeoffs should be sufficiently exploited for farmers to adopt technologies that are suited for their specific circumstances. Better knowledge, access to credit, group membership, farmer participation in demonstration trials, and, more substantial livestock holdings drive technology adoption decision. Technologies have different peak levels of adoption, which are reached at different time intervals. The policy option is to strengthen collaborative efforts to scale out sustainable agricultural technologies to respond to the increasing demand for nutrient-dense vegetables for income, food and nutrition security.

摘要

可持续农业技术对亚洲和撒哈拉以南非洲部分地区的主要作物产量产生了积极影响。然而，在坦桑尼亚的小农中，类似技术在蔬菜分行业的采用率仍然很低。旨在促进采用改良蔬菜品种、矿物肥料、粪肥和害虫管理措施等技术以提高产量的一些努力并未产生预期的效果。我们研究了农民采用这些技术的动态以及影响技术选择的因素。我们还预测采用这些可持续技术的峰值水平和速度。研究结果表明，改良品种、肥料和害虫管理实践之间存在互补性，而粪肥和矿物肥料之间存在权衡。农民应充分利用这些互补性和权衡取舍，采用适合其特定情况的技术。更好的知识、获得信贷、团体成员资格、农民参与示范试验，以及更多的牲畜持有量推动了技术采用决策。技术具有不同的采用高峰水平，在不同的时间间隔达到。政策选择是加强合作，扩大可持续农业技术的规模，以应对为收入、粮食和营养安全而对营养丰富的蔬菜日益增长的需求。农民参与示范试验，以及更多的牲畜持有量推动技术采用决策。技术具有不同的采用高峰水平，在不同的时间间隔达到。政策选择是加强合作，扩大可持续农业技术的规模，以应对为收入、粮食和营养安全而对营养丰富的蔬菜日益增长的需求。农民参与示范试验，以及更多的牲畜持有量推动技术采用决策。技术具有不同的采用高峰水平，在不同的时间间隔达到。政策选择是加强合作，扩大可持续农业技术的规模，以应对为收入、粮食和营养安全而对营养丰富的蔬菜日益增长的需求。