Adoption of sustainable agricultural intensification practices in rural areas of Botswana

Abstract

Abstract Sustainable Agricultural Intensification Practices (SAIPs) have emerged as a widely accepted approach for long-term and successful sustainable food production by addressing today’s widespread environmental challenges. Although some global concerns are serious, and there is a demand to completely implement Agenda 2030, it appears that developing nations are unable to adopt SAIPs on a wide scale. This study applied Principal Component Analysis (PCA), reducing 10 SAIPs to four key components: Regenerative Farming Ensemble (RFE), Integrated Nutrient Smart Farming (INSF), Water-wise Farming (WWF), and Green Land Stewards (GLS). Factors influencing farmers’ adoption of any of the four components were identified using a linear multivariate regression model as the primary model, with a seemingly unrelated regression model as a robustness check. The results indicate that farmers’ demographics, institutional context, and farm-related characteristics have distinct influences on the adoption of SAIPs components. For instance, household attributes, access to institutional support, and farm-level conditions significantly shaped SAIPs adoption across the four components. These results underscore the heterogeneity of adoption pathways and highlight the importance of tailoring interventions to specific farmer profiles and contexts. This study recommends promoting SAIPs through targeted training modules that equip farmers with practical implementation skills. Additionally, frequent workshops and information dissemination through TV, radio, and mobile platforms should be prioritized to strengthen awareness and capacity for sustainable farming practices.