Factors influencing smallholder adoption of organic agriculture in Southeast geopolitical region of Nigeria

IntroductionOrganic Agriculture is considered one of the promising sustainable agricultural systems that can promote green economy measures, especially in developing countries where smallholder agriculture forms the backbone of the economy. With increasing awareness of the environmental and health b...

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Main Authors: Chukwuma Otum Ume, Ogochukwu Gabriella Onah, Benjamin Chiedozie Okpukpara, Nice Chukwuma-Ume, Ukwuaba Ikenna Charles, Emmanuel Ejiofor Omeje, Chinedum Jachinma Chiemela, Ibe Justina Chituru, Ozioma Orazulike
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2023-08-01
Series:Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fsufs.2023.1173043/full
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author Chukwuma Otum Ume
Ogochukwu Gabriella Onah
Benjamin Chiedozie Okpukpara
Nice Chukwuma-Ume
Ukwuaba Ikenna Charles
Emmanuel Ejiofor Omeje
Chinedum Jachinma Chiemela
Ibe Justina Chituru
Ozioma Orazulike
author_facet Chukwuma Otum Ume
Ogochukwu Gabriella Onah
Benjamin Chiedozie Okpukpara
Nice Chukwuma-Ume
Ukwuaba Ikenna Charles
Emmanuel Ejiofor Omeje
Chinedum Jachinma Chiemela
Ibe Justina Chituru
Ozioma Orazulike
author_sort Chukwuma Otum Ume
collection DOAJ
description IntroductionOrganic Agriculture is considered one of the promising sustainable agricultural systems that can promote green economy measures, especially in developing countries where smallholder agriculture forms the backbone of the economy. With increasing awareness of the environmental and health benefits of organic foods, there has been an increasing number of studies assessing the demand side (determinants of consumers’ demand for organic products) within the global South. However, there is a dearth of research information on the supply side (e.g., factors influencing smallholder farmers’ willingness to engage in organic agriculture). To scale up organic agriculture among smallholder farmers, there is a need to explore and understand the factors influencing its adoption.MethodsUsing survey data from rural Nigeria, this paper applied Cragg’s double-hurdle model to assess the factors influencing smallholder farmers’ adoption of organic farming in the Southeast geopolitical region of Nigeria.ResultsThe result showed that information about organic farming plays a major role in motivating farmers to adopt organic farming. Farmers that know what organic farming entails were found to be 1.31 percent more likely to adopt organic farming and to dedicate 1.23 percent more of their land to organic farming than the farmers that are less aware of organic farming. Similarly, an organized organic marketing structure and a premium on organic products were found to statistically improve the adoption of organic farming. The proportion of land dedicated to organic farming was found to be 2.15 percent more for farmers that received a premium for their organic produce than their counterparts that do not receive a premium for their produce.DiscussionThe findings demonstrated policy actions aimed at certification among smallholder farmers employing organic farming methods can facilitate system-wise organic farming in rural areas. However, the nature of such certification that will not jeopardize the agency of the farmers requires further investigation.
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spelling doaj.art-27434743d8fc4accb6548409dd02dcd92023-08-18T07:43:06ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems2571-581X2023-08-01710.3389/fsufs.2023.11730431173043Factors influencing smallholder adoption of organic agriculture in Southeast geopolitical region of NigeriaChukwuma Otum UmeOgochukwu Gabriella OnahBenjamin Chiedozie OkpukparaNice Chukwuma-UmeUkwuaba Ikenna CharlesEmmanuel Ejiofor OmejeChinedum Jachinma ChiemelaIbe Justina ChituruOzioma OrazulikeIntroductionOrganic Agriculture is considered one of the promising sustainable agricultural systems that can promote green economy measures, especially in developing countries where smallholder agriculture forms the backbone of the economy. With increasing awareness of the environmental and health benefits of organic foods, there has been an increasing number of studies assessing the demand side (determinants of consumers’ demand for organic products) within the global South. However, there is a dearth of research information on the supply side (e.g., factors influencing smallholder farmers’ willingness to engage in organic agriculture). To scale up organic agriculture among smallholder farmers, there is a need to explore and understand the factors influencing its adoption.MethodsUsing survey data from rural Nigeria, this paper applied Cragg’s double-hurdle model to assess the factors influencing smallholder farmers’ adoption of organic farming in the Southeast geopolitical region of Nigeria.ResultsThe result showed that information about organic farming plays a major role in motivating farmers to adopt organic farming. Farmers that know what organic farming entails were found to be 1.31 percent more likely to adopt organic farming and to dedicate 1.23 percent more of their land to organic farming than the farmers that are less aware of organic farming. Similarly, an organized organic marketing structure and a premium on organic products were found to statistically improve the adoption of organic farming. The proportion of land dedicated to organic farming was found to be 2.15 percent more for farmers that received a premium for their organic produce than their counterparts that do not receive a premium for their produce.DiscussionThe findings demonstrated policy actions aimed at certification among smallholder farmers employing organic farming methods can facilitate system-wise organic farming in rural areas. However, the nature of such certification that will not jeopardize the agency of the farmers requires further investigation.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fsufs.2023.1173043/fullSoutheast Nigeriaorganic agricultureadoptionsmallholders agricultureCragg’s double-hurdle model
spellingShingle Chukwuma Otum Ume
Ogochukwu Gabriella Onah
Benjamin Chiedozie Okpukpara
Nice Chukwuma-Ume
Ukwuaba Ikenna Charles
Emmanuel Ejiofor Omeje
Chinedum Jachinma Chiemela
Ibe Justina Chituru
Ozioma Orazulike
Factors influencing smallholder adoption of organic agriculture in Southeast geopolitical region of Nigeria
Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems
Southeast Nigeria
organic agriculture
adoption
smallholders agriculture
Cragg’s double-hurdle model
title Factors influencing smallholder adoption of organic agriculture in Southeast geopolitical region of Nigeria
title_full Factors influencing smallholder adoption of organic agriculture in Southeast geopolitical region of Nigeria
title_fullStr Factors influencing smallholder adoption of organic agriculture in Southeast geopolitical region of Nigeria
title_full_unstemmed Factors influencing smallholder adoption of organic agriculture in Southeast geopolitical region of Nigeria
title_short Factors influencing smallholder adoption of organic agriculture in Southeast geopolitical region of Nigeria
title_sort factors influencing smallholder adoption of organic agriculture in southeast geopolitical region of nigeria
topic Southeast Nigeria
organic agriculture
adoption
smallholders agriculture
Cragg’s double-hurdle model
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fsufs.2023.1173043/full
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