462
(p < 0.05), confirming the critical role played by extension in creating awareness as
a prerequisite stage to technology adoption.
The results of the MVP model also revealed a positive and significant relationship between access to markets (both output and input markets) and adoption of
maize-legume intercropping. The finding is consistent with the findings of other
previous studies such as Lambrecht et al. (2014b). Legumes such as soybean, pigeon
peas and groundnuts constitute second major cash crop after tobacco in the study
area, and thus, despite soil fertility improvement and household food and nutritional
benefits, legumes are grown for immediate cash purposes. This means that access to
output markets for grain legumes is crucial in realizing this objective.
Mhango et al. (2012) also noted that limited access to both input (mainly for
seed) and output markets was one of the major constraints to adoption of maizelegume intercropping. Thus, facilitating access to input and output markets among
the smallholder farmers by either introducing these markets in their vicinities or
reducing transaction costs that farmers face in accessing the markets by improving
the network of road conditions and provision of affordable transportation means
would greatly increase the adoption of maize-legume intercropping. Vanlauwe et al.
(2014) also argue in support that increasing the adoption of sustainable intensification strategies such maize-legume intercropping will, among others, require access
to profitable output markets for enhanced productivity growth. According to
Sanginga and Woomer (2009), maximum benefits from ISFM technologies can only
be obtained within an enabling environment, where factors such as input and output
markets are in place, coupled with functional service delivery, institutions and progressive policies.
Access to legume seed was found to be positive and highly significant (p = 0.001)
in influencing adoption of maize-legume intercropping. This finding is consistent
with the findings by Amare et al. (2011) who, using a bivariate probit model, found
a positive and significant relationship between access to legume seed and adoption
of maize-pigeon pea intercropping. This is not surprising as most of the farmers in
the sample size reported access to seed constraint as a major impediment to adoption of legume diversification in maize-based farming system. This was more pronounced among the non-adopters. The finding implies holding other things equal;
access to legume seed increases the propensity to adopt maize-legume
intercropping.
Landholding size is another important determinant of adoption of ISFM technologies, significantly influencing adoption of legume-maize rotation at 10% alpha
level (p < 0.1). This implies that the likelihood of adopting legume-maize rotation is
higher with households that have large landholding sizes than those households
with smaller landholding size, other things being equal. Tizale (2007) found similar
results in Ethiopia and argued that large landholding sizes make crop rotation such
as legume-maize rotations more attractive than maize-legume intercropping, which
is often practised to maximize land use and spread economic risk. Group membership, proxy measure of social capital, was found to be positive and highly significant
in influencing adoption of maize-legume intercropping suggesting that households
that belong to any farmer group or rural institution pose high probability of adopting
J. S. Kanyamuka et al.
(p < 0.05), confirming the critical role played by extension in creating awareness as
a prerequisite stage to technology adoption.
The results of the MVP model also revealed a positive and significant relationship between access to markets (both output and input markets) and adoption of
maize-legume intercropping. The finding is consistent with the findings of other
previous studies such as Lambrecht et al. (2014b). Legumes such as soybean, pigeon
peas and groundnuts constitute second major cash crop after tobacco in the study
area, and thus, despite soil fertility improvement and household food and nutritional
benefits, legumes are grown for immediate cash purposes. This means that access to
output markets for grain legumes is crucial in realizing this objective.
Mhango et al. (2012) also noted that limited access to both input (mainly for
seed) and output markets was one of the major constraints to adoption of maizelegume intercropping. Thus, facilitating access to input and output markets among
the smallholder farmers by either introducing these markets in their vicinities or
reducing transaction costs that farmers face in accessing the markets by improving
the network of road conditions and provision of affordable transportation means
would greatly increase the adoption of maize-legume intercropping. Vanlauwe et al.
(2014) also argue in support that increasing the adoption of sustainable intensification strategies such maize-legume intercropping will, among others, require access
to profitable output markets for enhanced productivity growth. According to
Sanginga and Woomer (2009), maximum benefits from ISFM technologies can only
be obtained within an enabling environment, where factors such as input and output
markets are in place, coupled with functional service delivery, institutions and progressive policies.
Access to legume seed was found to be positive and highly significant (p = 0.001)
in influencing adoption of maize-legume intercropping. This finding is consistent
with the findings by Amare et al. (2011) who, using a bivariate probit model, found
a positive and significant relationship between access to legume seed and adoption
of maize-pigeon pea intercropping. This is not surprising as most of the farmers in
the sample size reported access to seed constraint as a major impediment to adoption of legume diversification in maize-based farming system. This was more pronounced among the non-adopters. The finding implies holding other things equal;
access to legume seed increases the propensity to adopt maize-legume
intercropping.
Landholding size is another important determinant of adoption of ISFM technologies, significantly influencing adoption of legume-maize rotation at 10% alpha
level (p < 0.1). This implies that the likelihood of adopting legume-maize rotation is
higher with households that have large landholding sizes than those households
with smaller landholding size, other things being equal. Tizale (2007) found similar
results in Ethiopia and argued that large landholding sizes make crop rotation such
as legume-maize rotations more attractive than maize-legume intercropping, which
is often practised to maximize land use and spread economic risk. Group membership, proxy measure of social capital, was found to be positive and highly significant
in influencing adoption of maize-legume intercropping suggesting that households
that belong to any farmer group or rural institution pose high probability of adopting
J. S. Kanyamuka et al.