Circular agricultural practices among smallholder farmers in Nakuru County, Kenya: Defining the determinants

Abstract

Efficient use of resources, recycling, and reusing agricultural wastes improves agricultural productivity. However, most smallholder farmers continue to use the principles of the linear economy, which affects the environment and agricultural productivity. To bridge this gap, this study examined the variables influencing the adoption of circular agriculture practices among smallholder farmers in Nakuru County, Kenya. This research focuses on three circular agriculture practices: mixed crop-livestock, intercropping, and organic farming, among others. Primary data was collected using semi-structured questionnaires through a survey approach. Using a multistage sampling technique, 384 respondents were sampled, and a multivariate probit model was used to determine the factors influencing the adoption of circular agriculture practices. The results from the multivariate probit model revealed that farming experience, farm size, group membership, and access to credit had a positive and significant influence on the adoption of circular agricultural practices, while age, education, land tenure, group membership, and distance to the market negatively influenced the adoption of circular agricultural practices. Therefore, farming experience, farm size, group membership, and access to credit have a significant influence on the adoption of circular agriculture practices among smallholder farmers. Policies focusing on knowledge and information transfer to smallholder farmers should give priority to educating smallholder farmers and influencing their decisions towards circular agronomic practices. This paper therefore recommends support programs in the form of credit access for the adoption of circular agriculture. This research therefore recommends support programs for group membership to disseminate information, as well as strategies to trigger the widespread adoption of best circular agriculture practices

Keywords: Circular agriculture, linear economy, recycling, waste, agriculture productivity

DOI: 10.7176/JBAH/15-1-05

Publication date: February 28^th 2025