Socio-economic factors affecting smallholder farmers’ willingness to adopt biodigester technology in South Africa
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17159/2413-3051/2022/v33i1a8860Abstract
Being energy-autonomous has been suggested as a means of having sustainable energy in South Africa, where about 98% of electricity is derived from coal. Research has shown that biogas produced from animal wastes using a biodigester can be used as a source of renewable energy with the added benefits of a by-product called digestate, which can replace inorganic fertiliser. This study analyses the factors that influence smallholder farmers’ willingness to adopt a biodigester technology. It uses a structured questionnaire to acquire data from 80 respondents in Ngaka Modiri Molema District in North West Province, South Africa. The respondents were 30 livestock farmers and 29 farmers practising mixed farming. Five extension officers were also interviewed to establish their level of knowledge about the technology. Descriptive statistics and Fisher’s exact test were used to analyse the data. Factors such as gender, years of experience and family size were significant to willingness to adopt a biodigester. Farmers who were male and those with more years of experience were open to the idea, while those with larger families were less open to it, due to financial constraint. Overall, respondents practising mixed farming were more willing to adopt a biodigester than livestock farmers.
Downloads
References
Agbenin, J.O. & Goladi, J.T. 1997. Carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus dynamics under continuous cultivation as influ-enced by farmyard manure and inorganic fertilisers in the savanna of northern Nigeria. Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment 63: 17-24. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0167-8809(96)01123-1
Ainembabazi, J.H. & Mugisha, J. 2014. The role of farming experience on the adoption of Agricultural technologies: Evidence from smallholder farmers in Uganda. Journal of Development Studies 50(5): 666-679. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/00220388.2013.874556
Akinbile, C.O., Adefolaju, S. & Ajibade F.O. 2016. Effect of organic and inorganic fertilizer on the growth and yield of amaranthus curentus in Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria. Proceedings of the 37th Annual Conference and Annual General Meeting – Minna 2016.
Bekhet, HA & Abdullah, A. 2010. Energy use in agriculture sector: Input-output analysis. International Business Re-search 3(3): 111-121. DOI: https://doi.org/10.5539/ibr.v3n3p111
Bishop, C., Frear, C., Shumway, R. & Chen, S. 2010. Economic evaluation of commercial dairy anaerobic digester. CSANR Research Report 2010 - 001: 1-17.
Botlhoko, G.J. & Oladele, O.J. 2013. Factors affecting farmers participation in agricultural projects in Ngaka Modiri Molema District North West Province, South Africa. Department of Agricultural Economics and Extension, North West University, Mafikeng Campus, South Africa. Journal of Human Ecology, 41(43): 281-206. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/09709274.2013.11906568
DAFF [Department of Agriculture and Fisheries]. 2012. A framework for the development of smallholder farmers through cooperatives development. Available from: https://www.nda.agric.za/doaDev/sideMenu/cooperativeandenterprisedevelopment/docs/FRAMEWORK-%20OF%20SMALL%20FARMERS%20(2).pdf. Accessed on 28 January 2019.
DEA [Department of Environmental Affairs]. 2018. South Africa’s low-emission development strategy 2050. Preto-ria: DEA.
DoE [Department of Energy]. 2015. Department of Energy: Vote 26 Annual Report 2015/2016. [online]. Available from: https://www.gov.za/sites/default/files/gcis_document/201610/doe-annual-report-2015-16.pdf. Ac-cessed on14 February 2022.
DoE [Department of Energy]. 2018. South African energy sector report 2018. Available from: https://www.energy.gov.za/files/media/explained/2018-South-African-Energy-Sector-Report.pdf. Accessed on 5 May 2020.
European Network for Rural Development (ENRD). 2013. RDP Analysis: Support to environment and climate change. MO1 & MO2 knowledge transfer and advisory services. Regulation (EU) NO1305 13Art.14
Fillion G. & Le Dinh T. 2008. An extended model of adoption of technology in households: A model test on people using a mobile phone. Management Review: An International Journal, 3(1): 58-93.
Freeman J.V. & Campbell M.J. 2007. The analysis of categorical data: Fisher’s exact test.. Available from https://www.sheffield.ac.uk/polopoly_fs/1.43998!/file/tutorial-9-fishers.pdf. Accessed on 26 February 2019.
Gebremedhin A.R. & Tesfay G. 2015. Evaluating the effects of intergrated use of organic and inorganic fertilizers on socio-economic performance of uplandrRice (Oryza Sativa L.) in Tselemti Wereda of North-Western Tigray, Ethi-opia. Journal of Biology, Agriculture and Healthcare, 5(7): 39-51.
Gibbons E.X., Gerrard M. & Boney-McCoy S. 1998. Prototype perception predicts (lack of) pregnancy prevention. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 21: 85-93. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/0146167295211009
Integrated Development Plan Draft (INDP) 2012-2016. Ngaka Modiri Molema District. 2019 Available from https://www.nmmdm.gov.za/sites/default/files/documents/IDP20120216_0_0.pdf. Accessed on 23 December 2019.
Ismail Z & Khembo P. 2015. Determinants of energy poverty in South Africa. Journal of Energy in Southern Africa, 26(3): 66-78. DOI: https://doi.org/10.17159/2413-3051/2015/v26i3a2130
Mohammadi H., Mohammadi A.M. & Nojavan S. 2017. Factors affecting farmer’s chemical fertilisers consumption and water pollution in Northeastern Iran. Journal of Agricultural Science, 9(2): 234-241. DOI: https://doi.org/10.5539/jas.v9n2p234
Muturi W. & Ogubazghi K.S. 2014. The effect of age and educational level of owner/managers on SMMEs’ access to bank loan in Eritrea: Evidence from Asmara city. American Journal of Industrial and Business Management, 4: 632-643. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4236/ajibm.2014.411069
Muvhiiwa R., Hildebrandt D., Chimwani N., Ngubevana L. & Matambo T. 2017. The impact and challenges of sus-tainable biogas implementation: Moving towards a bio-based economy. Energy, Sustainability and Economy, 7: 20. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s13705-017-0122-3
Mwangi M. & Kariuki S. 2015. Factors determining adoption of new agricultural technology by smallholder farmers in developing countries. Journal of Economic and sustainable development, 6(5): 208-216.
Nape K.M., Magama P., Moeletsi M.E., Tongwane M.I., NakanaI P.M., Mliswa V.K., Motsepe M. & Madikiza S. 2019. Introduction of household biogas digesters in rural farming households of the Maluti-a-Phofung municipality, South Africa. Journal of Energy in Southern Africa, 30(2): 28-37. DOI: https://doi.org/10.17159/2413-3051/2019/v30i2a5885
National Policy on extension and Advisory services. 2012. Part B policy intervention measure. Department: Agricul-ture, Forestry and Fisheries, Republic of South Africa. Available at https://www.kzndard.gov.za/images/Documents/PolicyDocuments/National-Policy-on-Extension-and-Advisory-Services---PART-B.pdf. Accessed on 15 February 2022.
Ngoc Chi T.T & Yamada R. 2002. Factors affecting farmer’s adoption of technologies in farming system: A case study in Omon district, Can Tho province, Mekong Delta. Japan International Research Centre of Agricultural Sciences, 94-100.
Nguu J., Ndivo S., Aduda B., Nyonyesa F. & Musembi R. 2014. Livestock farmer’s perception on generation of cattle waste based biogas methane: The Case of Embu West District, Kenya. Journal of Energy Technologies and Poli-cies),4 (8): 1-7.
Ntshangase N.L., Muroyiwa B. & Sibanda M. 2018. Farmers perception and factors influencing the adoption of no–till conservation agriculture by small-scale farmers in Zashuke. Journal of sustainability, 10(555): 2-16. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/su10020555
Nyambose W. & Jumbe C. 2013. Does conservation agriculture enhance household food security? Evidence from smallholder farmers in Nkhotakota in Malawi. Sustainable Agriculture Research, 5: 118-128. DOI: https://doi.org/10.5539/sar.v5n1p118
Ololade, O.O. 2018. Understanding the nexus between energy and water: A basis for human survival within the South Africa context. Development Southern Africa, 35(2): 194-209. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/0376835X.2018.1426445
Sahu S.K. & Das S. 2016. Impact of agricultural related technology adoption on poverty: A study of select households in rural India. In Siddharthan N., Narayanan K. (eds) Technology. India Studies in Business and Economics: Springer, Singapore. 141-156. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-10-1684-4_8
Sparks, D, Madhlop, A, Keen, S, Moorlach, M, Dane, A, Krog, P & Dlamini, T. 2014. Renewable energy choices and their water requirements in South Africa. Journal of Energy in Southern Africa, 25(4): 80–92. DOI: https://doi.org/10.17159/2413-3051/2014/v25i4a2241
Stacy A.W., Bentler P.M. & Flay B.R. 1994. Attitudes and health behaviour in diverse populations: Drunk driving, alcohol use, binge eating, marijuana use, and cigarette use. Health Psychology, 13:73-85. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1037/0278-6133.13.1.73
Tanellari E., Kostandini G. & Bonabana-Wabbi J. 2014. Gender impacts on adoption of new technologies: the case of improved groundnut varieties in Uganda. African Journal of Agricultural and Resource Economics, 9(4): 300-308.
Tshikalange B, Bello Z. & Ololade O.O. 2020. Evaluating cattle dung biogas digestate fertilisation capability and its leaching possibility under cropping condition. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 27: 3237–3246. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-019-07104-8
Uwizeyimana V., Weiping Liu., Liangming F., Xiaomin J., Cheng X., Ngendahayo E., Rosine I & David T. 2016. Evalua-tion of people’s perception on the use of a biogas: case study of Kirehe District Eastern Province –Rwanda. Jour-nal of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, 16(8): 1467-1472.
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2022 L.P. Bonokwane, Shola
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
.png){kind=spacer}