抄録
Farming can be unattractive to small-scale Zambian producers owing to low yields and profits. The Zambian government and partners have promoted conservation agriculture (CA) for more than 10 years to improve yields. This paper evaluates the potential of CA to improve the yields and profitability of small-scale farmers in Lusaka Province. Although one study found that yield and profit differences between CA and conventional agriculture were key factors in technology adoption, most studies found no significant short-term yield, production cost, or profit differences between CA and conventional agriculture. Mean maize yield under CA increased from 1.57 t/ha in 2009-10 to 1.76 t/ha in 2010-11. Although 56.8% of the small-scale farmers had practiced CA for at least 3 years, their field sizes were smaller than 1 ha. Of the CA farmers, 18.9% wanted to increase yields and profits by increasing the area under CA. In addition, 53.1% of the conventional farmers wanted to do the same by adopting CA. On the basis of the results, I recommend the promotion of CA by building the capacity of farmers and extension workers and by teaching farmers effective business and organizational skills. I also recommend increased mechanization of CA, addressing gender imbalances among farmers, increasing youth participation in CA programs, and improving CA policy in Zambia.
