Adoption and Impacts of Sustainable Agricultural Practices on Maize Yields and Incomes: Evidence from Rural Zambia. (3rd August 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Manda, Julius; Alene, Arega D.; Gardebroek, Cornelis; Kassie, Menale; Tembo, Gelson
• Is Part Of: Journal of agricultural economics. Volume 67:Number 1(2016)
• Page Start: 130
• Page End: 153
• Publication Date: 2015-08-03
• Subjects: Incomes -- maize yields -- multinomial endogenous treatment effects -- sustainable agricultural practices -- Zambia; Agriculture -- Economic aspects -- Periodicals; 338.1
• DOI: 10.1111/1477-9552.12127
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0021-857X

Abstract

Abstract: This paper uses a multinomial endogenous treatment effects model and data from a sample of over 800 households and 3, 000 plots to assess the determinants and impacts of adoption of sustainable agricultural practices (SAPs) on maize yields and household incomes in rural Zambia. Results show that adoption decisions are driven by household and plot level characteristics and that the adoption of a combination of SAPs raises both maize yields and incomes of smallholder farmers. Adoption of improved maize alone has greater impacts on maize yields, but given the high cost of inorganic fertiliser that limits the profitability of adoption of improved maize, greater household incomes are associated rather with a package involving SAPs such as maize–legume rotation and residue retention.