Fred H. Johnsen

Smallholder Farmers' Perceptions of Climate Change and Conservation Agriculture: Evidence from Zambia

Actors involved in promoting conservation agriculture have often not taken into account perceptions of smallholder farmers of climate change and conservation agriculture as an adaptation strategy. This study documents smallholder farmers’ perceptions of climate change and conservation agriculture. Most farmers attributed climate change to supernatural forces. Smallholder farmers’ perceptions related to floods and droughts were significantly associated with adoption of conservation agriculture. The extent to which smallholder farmers perceived conservation agriculture as a climate change adaptation strategy was very low. This suggests existence of other important reasons for practicing conservation agriculture than adaptation to climate change. Policy implications of the study are: conservation agriculture projects should not only focus on technical approaches to increase adoption rates but also consider social aspects such as perceptions that are equally important in conservation agriculture. Inclusion of climate change communication to facilitate exchange of climatic information that could enable smallholder farmers relate to conservation agriculture as an adaptation strategy is essential.

Are Smallholder Zambian Farmers Economists? A Dual-Analysis of Farmers’ Expenditure in Conservation and Conventional Agriculture Systems

This article presents the results of a comparative study on conservation and conventional agriculture among smallholder farmers in Zambia. It shows that conservation agriculture in Zambia, as currently practiced, does not reduce labor required during critical periods of the farming cycle. We argue that smallholder farmer decisions on whether or not to adopt conservation agriculture goes beyond its agronomic and economic superiority over conventional practice. The farmers also consider its labor demands, crops to be grown, and cultural norms. We show that farmers calculate their costs differently from conventional economic analysis. We conclude that promotion of conservation agriculture should be informed by local and contextual factors.

Health and environmental costs of pesticide use in vegetable farming in Nepal

There is a growing concern of pesticide risks to human health, natural environment and ecosystems. Many previous economic valuations have accounted health aspects or environmental components, but rarely combined; thus, overall risk assessment is partially distorted. The study, conducted close to the capital of Nepal, addressed the health effects of pesticides on small-scale farmers and evaluated the monetary risks of pesticide use on human health and environmental resources. We also aim to establish the relationships among valuation methods. The paper adopts cost of illness, defensive expenditure and contingent valuation willingness to pay approach. The study concluded that the methods used for valuing pesticide risks to human and environmental health are theoretically consistent. The exposed individuals are likely to bear significant economic costs of exposures depending on geographical location, pesticide use magnitudes and frequency. Individuals are willing to pay between 53 and 79% more than the existing pesticide price to protect their health and environment. The integrated pest management training is less likely to reduce health costs of pesticide exposure, although it leads to higher investment in safety measures.

ENVIRONMENTAL AND EXCHANGE ENTITLEMENTS FROM EUCALYPTUS WOODLOTS: THE CASE OF MUKONO DISTRICT IN UGANDA

ABSTRACT The concept of entitlement has been used to show how different social actors access and negotiate for goods and services from natural resources. Although Eucalyptus tree species are perceived to generate adverse environmental impacts, they make an invaluable contribution to rural peoples livelihoods. This study examined the socio-economic importance of Eucalyptus woodlots in Mukono district, Uganda, using the entitlements framework. Data were collected employing a questionnaire survey of randomly selected households. PRA tools were also used to supplement questionnaire data. The results indicate that Eucalyptus woodlots provided both environmental and exchange entitlements to the local people. The environmental entitlements included firewood, medicinal collections, plant foods, fodder for livestock and Eucalyptus seeds. The exchange entitlements were paid labour for land preparation, planting, tending and harvesting of trees, and trading in Eucalyptus seeds, firewood and poles. Although the woodlots are private property, they provide local people with various forms of exchange and environmental entitlements that enhance livelihoods. The policy implication is that increased private forest farming can provide both social and environmental goods, improve rural livelihoods and thus help to reduce pressure on the natural forests.