The role of social capital in the adoption of CA: the case of Likoti in Lesotho. Amir Kassam

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This document summarizes a study on the adoption of conservation agriculture (CA) practices by farmers in Lesotho. It finds that social capital plays a significant role in adoption. Farmers with higher levels of trust and cooperation, especially when combined with participatory training approaches, showed greater adoption of CA. Higher levels of education also correlated with increased adoption, particularly for female farmers. While CA led to increased productivity, environmental sustainability, and food security, investments are needed to build social capital dimensions like participation. Policy should assess local social capital and support enabling factors like education and extension services to promote sustainable agricultural practices.

Bildung Technologie Business

The Role of Social Capital in the
Adoption of Conservation Agriculture:
The Case of likoti in Lesotho

Laura Silici, Theodor Friedrich and Amir Kassam

5th World Congress of Conservation Agriculture
incorporating 3rd Farming Systems Design Conference, 26-
29 September 2011 Brisbane, Australia

Outline
• Lesotho: socio-economic and environmental constraints
• The practice of Likoti
• Materials and methods: source of the data, variables and
statistical tools (Bayesian Networks)
• Results and discussion: impacts on sustainable crop
intensification
• Results and discussion: the role of social capital and the
importance of participatory training
• Conclusions and policy implications

Lesotho: Country Overview
• High unemployment
• Internal and external migrations
• High rate of HIV/AIDS
• Extensive land degradation
• Low agricultural productivity
• Recurrent food crisis

Depleting social
capital

Reduced livelihood base
(including farming) and high
vulnerability

Materials and Methods: Source of the Data
• Two stratified sample populations of farmers (117 CA + 112
conventional) interviewed on socio-demographic
features, food security status, wealth, social capital and
community organization, farming and agricultural
production

• Workshops and open interviews with key informants

• 123 composite soil samples tested for soil fertility and soil
texture

• Yields recorded from a sub-sample of farmers

Results and Discussion: Impacts on
Sustainable Crop Intensification
• Higher agricultural productivity, due to improved efficiency
in the use of inputs and other resources

• Greater environmental sustainability due to improved soil
structure and enhanced fertility

• Higher social sustainability
• Accessibility to the technology by all social
categories, including the most vulnerable
• Improved food security status

Results and Discussion: Determinants of the
Adoption of CA in Lesotho
• Degree of trust and cooperation, especially when
combined with a participatory approach pursued by
committed trainers

• Economic incentives provided to vulnerable
households in the very early stages of adoption

• Literacy and education (especially relevant in case of
female adopters)

Conditional dependence among social capital and CA variables, adopter sub-sample

SOCIAL
CAPITAL

ADOPTION
OF CA

SOCIO-
ECONOMIC

Conditional dependence among social capital and CA variables, evidence in the Location node
(Lowland sites: poor participation  lower CA knowledge)

Conditional dependence among social capital and CA variables, evidence in the Location node
(Mountain sites: high participation  better CA knowledge)

Conclusions and Policy Implications

• Social capital plays a significant role in the adoption and the
performance of sustainable agricultural practices

• But... how “to invest” in social capital?
– The choice of the most appropriate technology critically
depends on the preliminary assessment of social capital
dimensions
– Social capital ‘enabling factors’ (e.g. education, capable
agency of committed leaders, meso-institutions) can be
consistently included in policy interventions

Thank you!

Laura Silici l.silici@btinternet.com
Amir Kassam kassamamir@aol.com

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