Farmer preferences for attributes of conservation agriculture in Uganda

Conservation agriculture has many potential benefits for small-scale farmers in developing countries; however, adoption remains low. This study estimates the value that farmers in the Tororo and Kapchorwa districts of Uganda place on some potential benefits of conservation agriculture. Data from a choice experiment study were analysed with a mixed logit model to determine how reductions in erosion, reductions in labour requirements for land preparation, increases in yield and increases in input costs influence farmers’ choices of production methods. Willingness-to-pay estimates for increases in maize yield, reductions in erosion and reductions in labour requirements for land preparation are all positive and statistically significant. Preferences for these attributes vary by district, gender and prior farming practices. Male farmers are less sensitive to cost increases than female farmers. Kapchorwa farmers are less sensitive to cost increases than Tororo farmers and also value erosion control and labour reductions more highly