A probit analysis of factors affecting decisions to continue maintaining soil conservation structures after adoption of the technology in Kericho County, Kenya

Abstract

Available literature shows that most famers abandon promoted soil conservation technologies soon after financial and technical supports cease. This is because technologies are launched without serious evaluation of factors affecting continued use of adopted technologies. This paper provides an analysis of the factors that influence the decision by farmers who have adopted soil conservation technologies to continue maintaining soil conservation structures once promotion support cease. Initial adoption of soil conservation is normally made easy by subsidies that aid in technology establishment. Extension agents are facilitated to educate farmers on the need to conserve soil. Soil conservation once established need to be maintained to serve the purpose of soil conservation. In the 1990s soil conservation subsidy was withdrawn with expectation that farmers would continue maintaining adopted soil conservation technologies. However, most farmers abandoned soil conservation structures as soon as conservation subsidy was withdrawn. A study was carried out in Kericho County to analyze factors believed to determine continued adoption of promoted soil conservation practices when subsidies are withdrawn. A random sample of 85 farmers was selected from Kericho County. Questionnaires were used to collect primary data from selected households. A lot of information on soil conservation efforts was sought from Lake Victoria Environmental Management Programme reports. The findings of the indicated that some of the analyzed variables significantly affected continued use of technologies. It is recommended that factors that were significant be considered in policy formulations related to sustainable use of soil conservation technologies. There is need to educate farmers to understand the role of soil conservation technologies in improved agricultural production so that farmers see the need to maintain the technologies.