Zaca Fortunate Nosisa, Ngidi Mjabuliseni Simon Cloapas, Chipfupa Unity, Ojo Temitope Oluwaseun, Managa Lavhelesani Rodney
African Centre for Food Security, School of Agricultural, Earth and Environmental Sciences, College of Agriculture, Engineering and Science, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Private Bag X01, Scottsville, Pietermaritzburg 3201, South Africa.
Centre for Transformative Agricultural and Food Systems, School of Agricultural, Earth and Environmental Sciences, College of Agriculture, Engineering and Science, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Private Bag X01, Scottsville, Pietermaritzburg 3201, South Africa.
Forests. 2023 Oct 14;14(10):2056. doi: 10.3390/f14102056.
Agroforestry is recognized as a significant element in climate-smart agriculture due to its high potential for addressing food insecurity, climate change challenges, and ecosystem management. However, despite the potential benefits of agroforestry practices, the adoption by rural households in Sub-Saharan Africa is low. Adopting agroforestry practices requires understanding rural households' socio-economic and socio-psychological factors. Hence, this study empirically examined the role of knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions in the uptake of agroforestry practices among rural households to better understand the adoption process. A sample of 305 households was obtained from three communities, namely, Swayimane, Umbumbulu, and Richmond, in KwaZulu-Natal province. Principal component analysis and a binary logistic regression model were employed to analyze the data. Knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions towards agroforestry were found to positively influence the adoption of agroforestry practices. The results also revealed that age, farming experience, education level, and land size were determinants of agroforestry adoption. Therefore, the study recommends that policymakers, extension officers, and climate change champions consider rural households' socio-economic characteristics, knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions when designing agroforestry projects. Implementing training programs with practical demonstration is also recommended to increase awareness of the benefits of agroforestry practices and encourage rural households to protect on-farm trees and shrubs.
由于农林业在解决粮食不安全、气候变化挑战和生态系统管理方面具有巨大潜力，它被视为气候智能型农业的一个重要组成部分。然而，尽管农林业实践有潜在益处，但撒哈拉以南非洲农村家庭对其采用率却很低。采用农林业实践需要了解农村家庭的社会经济和社会心理因素。因此，本研究通过实证检验了知识、态度和认知在农村家庭采用农林业实践中的作用，以便更好地理解采用过程。从夸祖鲁 - 纳塔尔省的三个社区，即斯瓦伊马内、温布姆布卢和里士满抽取了305户家庭作为样本。采用主成分分析和二元逻辑回归模型对数据进行分析。研究发现，对农林业的知识、态度和认知对采用农林业实践有积极影响。结果还表明，年龄、耕作经验、教育水平和土地规模是采用农林业的决定因素。因此，该研究建议政策制定者、推广人员和气候变化倡导者在设计农林业项目时考虑农村家庭的社会经济特征、知识、态度和认知。还建议实施带有实际示范的培训项目，以提高对农林业实践益处的认识，并鼓励农村家庭保护农场中的树木和灌木。
