Participatory action research, social networks, and gender influence soil fertility management in Tanzania

Transformation of knowledge systems and fostering learning among smallholder farmers such as through participatory action research (PAR) is key to agricultural growth in rural sub-Saharan Africa. We investigate how PAR influences uptake/use of integrated soil fertility management (ISFM) while accoun...

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Autores principales: Mponela, Powell, Manda, Julius, Kinyua, Michael, Kihara, Job Maguta
Formato: Journal Article
Lenguaje:Inglés
Publicado: Springer 2023
Materias:
Acceso en línea:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/119647
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author Mponela, Powell
Manda, Julius
Kinyua, Michael
Kihara, Job Maguta
author_browse Kihara, Job Maguta
Kinyua, Michael
Manda, Julius
Mponela, Powell
author_facet Mponela, Powell
Manda, Julius
Kinyua, Michael
Kihara, Job Maguta
author_sort Mponela, Powell
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description Transformation of knowledge systems and fostering learning among smallholder farmers such as through participatory action research (PAR) is key to agricultural growth in rural sub-Saharan Africa. We investigate how PAR influences uptake/use of integrated soil fertility management (ISFM) while accounting for gendered, bonding and bridging social capital. Stratified by engagement in a mother-baby PAR and by resource endowments, 607 smallholder farmers were sampled from northern Tanzania. Binary logistic and multinomial logit models revealed that full engagement in PAR was associated with early adoption of inorganic fertilizers, either as a dichotomous decision or an ISFM bundle with improved varieties, organic matter inputs and soil and water conservation. Bonding social capital through cooperatives, farmer groups, and farmer-farmer local networks supports soil and water conservation, especially among resource-poor farmers. Among the high-resource farmers, increased women’s bargaining power in farm input purchases supports fertilizer and manure use while increased bargaining power in livestock tending supports crop residue incorporation. ISFM usage is constrained by age of decision-makers and a higher number of dependents per worker while education level and farm sizes increase its likelihood. In the resource-constrained, with low extension and technical support, and men-dominated patrilineal farming systems of Africa, the study places PAR, social networks, and gender inclusivity as key approaches for improving smallholder’ ISFM.
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publishDate 2023
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spelling CGSpace1196472025-11-12T06:50:33Z Participatory action research, social networks, and gender influence soil fertility management in Tanzania Mponela, Powell Manda, Julius Kinyua, Michael Kihara, Job Maguta participatory action research social capital gender equality soil fertility soil management investigación práctica participativa capital social igualdad de género smallholders farmers gender social networks farming systems livelihoods tanzania Transformation of knowledge systems and fostering learning among smallholder farmers such as through participatory action research (PAR) is key to agricultural growth in rural sub-Saharan Africa. We investigate how PAR influences uptake/use of integrated soil fertility management (ISFM) while accounting for gendered, bonding and bridging social capital. Stratified by engagement in a mother-baby PAR and by resource endowments, 607 smallholder farmers were sampled from northern Tanzania. Binary logistic and multinomial logit models revealed that full engagement in PAR was associated with early adoption of inorganic fertilizers, either as a dichotomous decision or an ISFM bundle with improved varieties, organic matter inputs and soil and water conservation. Bonding social capital through cooperatives, farmer groups, and farmer-farmer local networks supports soil and water conservation, especially among resource-poor farmers. Among the high-resource farmers, increased women’s bargaining power in farm input purchases supports fertilizer and manure use while increased bargaining power in livestock tending supports crop residue incorporation. ISFM usage is constrained by age of decision-makers and a higher number of dependents per worker while education level and farm sizes increase its likelihood. In the resource-constrained, with low extension and technical support, and men-dominated patrilineal farming systems of Africa, the study places PAR, social networks, and gender inclusivity as key approaches for improving smallholder’ ISFM. 2023-02 2022-05-25T14:01:21Z 2022-05-25T14:01:21Z Journal Article https://hdl.handle.net/10568/119647 en Open Access application/pdf Springer Mponela, P., Manda, J., Kinyua, M.; Kihara, J.M. (2023) Participatory action research, social networks, and gender influence soil fertility management in Tanzania. Systemic Practice and Action Research 36 p. 141–163. ISSN: 1094-429X
spellingShingle participatory action research
social capital
gender equality
soil fertility
soil management
investigación práctica participativa
capital social
igualdad de género
smallholders
farmers
gender
social networks
farming systems
livelihoods
tanzania
Mponela, Powell
Manda, Julius
Kinyua, Michael
Kihara, Job Maguta
Participatory action research, social networks, and gender influence soil fertility management in Tanzania
title Participatory action research, social networks, and gender influence soil fertility management in Tanzania
title_full Participatory action research, social networks, and gender influence soil fertility management in Tanzania
title_fullStr Participatory action research, social networks, and gender influence soil fertility management in Tanzania
title_full_unstemmed Participatory action research, social networks, and gender influence soil fertility management in Tanzania
title_short Participatory action research, social networks, and gender influence soil fertility management in Tanzania
title_sort participatory action research social networks and gender influence soil fertility management in tanzania
topic participatory action research
social capital
gender equality
soil fertility
soil management
investigación práctica participativa
capital social
igualdad de género
smallholders
farmers
gender
social networks
farming systems
livelihoods
tanzania
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/119647
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AT mandajulius participatoryactionresearchsocialnetworksandgenderinfluencesoilfertilitymanagementintanzania
AT kinyuamichael participatoryactionresearchsocialnetworksandgenderinfluencesoilfertilitymanagementintanzania
AT kiharajobmaguta participatoryactionresearchsocialnetworksandgenderinfluencesoilfertilitymanagementintanzania