Adoption of Chemical Fertilizers in Coffee Production in Kikyenkye Sub-County, Ibanda District

Abstract

The study focused on assessing the adoption of chemical fertilizers in coffee productionin Kikyenkye Sub-County, Ibanda District. It was limited to; investigating the perceptions and attitudes of farmers on application of chemical fertilizers in coffee, determining the level of awareness of chemical fertilizers use in coffee production, investigating farm-based factors that determine farmers’ choice to use chemical fertilizers in coffee production and establishing possible strategies of promoting adoption of chemical fertilizers in coffee production. The study employed a cross-sectional, descriptive research design and primary data was collected from 124 respondents.The study concluded that there is positive perception and attitude of farmers on application of chemical fertilizers where chemical fertilizers use ensure high productivity and yields of coffee, Chemical fertilizers are basically used in high value commercial crops like tea and coffee and that the decisions on chemical fertilizers use is based on access to information and market prices were considered significant at P<0.05 (P=.019, P=.003 and P=.009) and others like chemical fertilizers applied to in coffee do not provide optimal economic returns to farmers, fertilizers use is influenced by agro-climatic and farm characteristics, chemical fertilizers are not suitable for use in coffee and that chemical fertilizers use that alter the soil properties were non-significant at P-value>0.05(P=.867, P=.706, P=.263 and P=.637).The study further concluded that farmers who had access to training services on the methods of application and easy access to the source of chemical fertilizers had high level of awareness on the use of chemical fertilizers in coffee production. The study also concluded that some farm based factors were significant for example, small size of land and land fragmentation at p-value < 0.05 (P=0.006 and P=0.008 where as other factors were non-significant like land ownership, coffee-banana intercropping, farm location and long distance in relation to chemical fertilizer distribution channels were non-significant at P value >0.05(P=0.146, P=0.622, P=0.913, = 0.351). The study finally concluded that possible strategies of promoting adoption of chemical fertilizers in coffee production such as; providing constant training on the value of chemical fertilizers by extension workers was significant at (P=0.000), stabilizing prices for both agricultural inputs and crop outputs without direct government intervention in the market was significant at (P=0.002) while non-significant strategies included; conducting a chemical fertilizer yield response and profitability studies for a range of crops (P=0.938), establishing a fertilizer subsidies program (P=0.766), designing a fertilizer promotion strategy (P=0.273) and considering the potential for public-private partnerships to deliver fertilizer to farmers (P=0.144).The study recommends that there is a need for more education and awareness-raising activities to help farmers make informed decisions about the use of chemical fertilizers, policymakers and agricultural stakeholders to consider the social, economic, and environmental implications of the widespread use of chemical fertilizers in coffee production, governments undertaking awareness raising campaigns and the need to reduce the cost of chemical fertilizers through subsidies