Research on World Agricultural Economy

Lessons Learned from Adopting Sustainable Agricultural Practices to Address Food Insecurity and Climate Change Risks: Opportunities, Constraints, and Limitations

Gebrecherkos Gebregiorgis

Department of Cooperative Studies, Mekelle University, Mekelle, Tigrai, Ethiopia

Woldegebrial Zeweld

Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics, Mekelle University, Tigrai, Ethiopia

Assefa Hdgot

Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics, Mekelle University, Tigrai, Ethiopia

Dawit Gebregziabher

Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics, Mekelle University, Tigrai, Ethiopia

Hossein Azadi

Department of Geography, Ghent University, Gent, Belgium

Guido Van Huylenbroeck

Department of Agricultural Economics, Ghent University, Gent, Belgium

Girmay Tesfay

Department of Cooperative Studies, Mekelle University, Mekelle, Tigrai, Ethiopia

Stijn Speelman

Department of Agricultural Economics, Ghent University, Gent, Belgium

DOI: https://doi.org/10.36956/rwae.v5i3.1131

Received: 15 June 2024; Received in revised form: 13 July 2024; Accepted: 17 July 2024; Published: 2 September 2024

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Abstract

Conventional agriculture has been blamed for its ecological and economic concerns. Consequently, sustainable agriculture has emerged as a feasible and viable alternative for addressing food insecurity and climate change risks, despite its low uptake and unmet expectations. This study examined the opportunities, challenges, and limitations of adopting sustainable agriculture. To do this, a questionnaire survey and group discussions were used to collect information from a random sample of households. The collected data were examined using the percentage, priority ranking, and content analysis. Farmers have mentioned several economic benefits and ecological viability of sustainable agriculture: enhanced soil fertility, improved vegetation coverage, reduced land degradation, generated employment, and increased water availability. These results have then led to increased agricultural productivity, reduced carbon emissions, and improved food security. However, it was found that lack of information, limited institutional support, labour shortages, and fragmented farmland are the major constraints to adopting sustainable agriculture. Other problems include an increased workload, waterlogging, sedimentation, loss of cultivated and grazing land, the spread of external predators, and the emergence of diseases and pests. All of these problems may prohibit farmers from fully accepting and implementing sustainable agriculture. Hence, it is imperative to organize on-the-spot demonstrations, information-sharing, and capacity building for farmers and extension workers in order to comprehend the attributes, benefits, and constraints of sustainable agriculture. Farmers should also be given technical and financial assistance to implement sustainable agricultural practices. It is imperative that policymakers and development actors must establish and empower local institutions to promote sustainable agriculture, in order to fully explot its potential benefits and expand its reach to areas that are prone to drought and water shortages.

Keywords: Farm households; Benefits; Barriers; Challenges; Sustainable Agriculture

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