The influences on farmers' planned and actual farm adaptation decisions: Evidence from small-scale irrigation schemes in South-Eastern Africa

Studies are scarce linking planned farmer adaptation practices with their actual practices over time. This study addresses this gap by investigating planned and actual adaptation behaviour, using data collected in 2014 and 2017, from various irrigation schemes in south-eastern Africa. Four planned farm adaptation indexes were created and analysed, with findings suggesting that land size, previous adaptation experience and credit access were positively associated with all types of adaptation. The results from the two waves of survey analysis also indicated very different influences between planned and actual practices, with the proportion of farmers actually undertaking a particular practice far greater than those who planned to undertake it. This result might be related to the project intervention within the study schemes, where numerous factors previously hampering irrigation were resolved, increasing farmers' ability to adapt. Enhancing the availability and quality of education, extension services and finance could be valuable in encouraging further farm adaptation.

Automated summary

This study examines planned and actual farmer adaptation behavior in irrigation schemes in south-eastern Africa. The findings indicate that land size, previous adaptation experience, and credit access are positively associated with all types of adaptation. The study also highlights the significant difference between planned and actual practices, with more farmers actually undertaking the practices. This result may be attributed to project interventions that resolved past issues and enhanced farmers' adaptive capacity. Improving the availability and quality of education, extension services, and finance could further encourage farm adaptation.