SESSION IV - SOCIO-ECONOMIC ASPECTS
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Lesson 10
Socio-economic aspects of the cactus pear for fruit and biomass production
by Laura Slot, Fatiha Fort
Introduction to lesson 10
Introduction to lesson 10
Sustainable and well-managed cultivation of the cactus pear (Opuntia ficus-indica) could contribute to conservation agriculture (CA) in dry climates, threatened by climate change. However, the development of sustainable cultivation techniques could be made part of a viable CA strategy only if challenges in farmer’s adoption are being considered through a farmer-centred approach.
The adoption of innovation by (smallholder) farmers is determined by many factors: availability of technology and infrastructure, human resources, knowledge transfer, access to (public) extension services, financial resources, market access, risk perception, land/property rights, social interaction, gender, food security, agriculture dependency, agro-ecological conditions and attitude towards the environment.
Until now, studies are looking at extrinsic adoption factors rather than at how farmers perceive the benefits and challenges of innovations. Researchers often can observe advantages of an innovation, farmers do not necessarily perceive this the same way, having limited access to the work of the researchers as well as other resources. There is a gap between the development of sustainable practices and the implementation of these practices, which is thought to reflect the low adaptive capacity of smallholder farmers because of constraints in their ability to invest in resilient practices. Internet communication, trainings, linkage of the research with cooperatives and associations, financial support and/or farm trials of the innovations can contribute to bridging this gap.
Recommendations that could contribute to a smooth and well-developed innovation transfer process are:
1. Use trainings and (existing and new) social and communication networks (e.g. community, cooperatives, associations) 2. Make adoption as easy as possible by facilitating and providing the necessary resources (e.g. provide reimbursements for farmers to travel to trainings)3. Adapt innovation transfer to current and future risks and needs of farmers (consider cochineal pest and consequences of climate change)4. Consider that farmers might need to diversify their income outside of the cactus pear production to earn enough money to provide their livelihood5. Let farmers get to know the innovations through trials made by farmers willing to try them
The adoption of innovation by (smallholder) farmers is determined by many factors: availability of technology and infrastructure, human resources, knowledge transfer, access to (public) extension services, financial resources, market access, risk perception, land/property rights, social interaction, gender, food security, agriculture dependency, agro-ecological conditions and attitude towards the environment.
Until now, studies are looking at extrinsic adoption factors rather than at how farmers perceive the benefits and challenges of innovations. Researchers often can observe advantages of an innovation, farmers do not necessarily perceive this the same way, having limited access to the work of the researchers as well as other resources. There is a gap between the development of sustainable practices and the implementation of these practices, which is thought to reflect the low adaptive capacity of smallholder farmers because of constraints in their ability to invest in resilient practices. Internet communication, trainings, linkage of the research with cooperatives and associations, financial support and/or farm trials of the innovations can contribute to bridging this gap.
Recommendations that could contribute to a smooth and well-developed innovation transfer process are:
1. Use trainings and (existing and new) social and communication networks (e.g. community, cooperatives, associations) 2. Make adoption as easy as possible by facilitating and providing the necessary resources (e.g. provide reimbursements for farmers to travel to trainings)3. Adapt innovation transfer to current and future risks and needs of farmers (consider cochineal pest and consequences of climate change)4. Consider that farmers might need to diversify their income outside of the cactus pear production to earn enough money to provide their livelihood5. Let farmers get to know the innovations through trials made by farmers willing to try them
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