A new study by scientists from the World Agroforestry Centre warns that the introduction of new crops without tried and tested evidence about their viability could be counter-productive.
BrightSurf.com reports that smallholder farmers are increasingly look to alternative crops that can generate higher incomes and improve their livelihoods. However, a study in Kenya reports on how the introduction of jatropha by smallholder farmers largely failed.
The farmers in Kenya who undertook to plant jatropha (which produces oil rich seeds that can be processed into biodiesel for use as an energy source) received low economic returns, despite it being widely promoted as a ‘wonder crop’.
The study concludes this was largely because jatropha was adopted in the absence of an established and reliable market for jatropha products, and without tried processes for local use.
The farmers often used poor quality planting material and inadequate management practices which led to low yields and the spread of pests and diseases.
In the future, extension services should be prepared to provide the necessary structures, advice, and incentives to guide the adoption process and provide information to farmers, says the study.
Read the full story: The feasibility of a crop should be investigated before it can be promoted for adoption by farmers
