Landscape characteristics and socio-ethnic factors influencing farmers attitude towards Agroforestry adoption

Bachelor of Science Mitchell Collins, BS

Master's thesis

Abstract:

Abstract The global scenario of climate change is a pressing issue that continues to worsen. Climate change has increased the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events. This affects agriculture. In Nepal, food insecurity and vulnerability have increased for many rural communities as water temperatures have dropped, reducing yields of key staple crops. This study examines the determinants of agroforestry adoption in all three regions of the topographically diverse nation of Nepal. A multistage sampling technique and structured and unstructured interviews were used to answer the survey, resulting in 400 questionnaires used for data collection. IBM SPSS Statistics version 28 software was used for data analysis. Binary Logit Model was used to examine the effects of household (socio-demographic and socio-economic), institutional, landscape, and information access characteristics on agroforestry adoption. The results exposed ten statistically significant variables that have an impact on agroforestry adoption: study region (p-value <0.001); household age (p-value 0.017); education (p-value 0.022); marital status (p-value 0.026); labor access (p-value 0.100); land owner (p-value 0.003); farm income (p-value <0.001); access to formal credit (p-value <0.001); irrigation as a sustainable farming practice (p-value <0.001); and information access to weather via the internet (p-value 0.004). Based on the results of the study, recommendations for the Nepalese government and stakeholders alike mentioned in this study include educational investments and training programs, income diversification to increase profitability, affordable credit provisions be put in place, and incentivized provisions for landowners to engage in agroforestry practices.

Keywords

Nepal, climate change, farmers, agroforestry, landscape

Language used: English

Date on which the thesis was submitted / produced: 24. 4. 2023

Thesis defence

• Supervisor: doc. Ing. Miroslava Bavorová, Ph.D.
• Reader: Nils Teufel, externi

Czech University of Life Sciences Prague

Faculty of Tropical AgriSciences

Master programme:
International Development and Agricultural Economics