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Assessment of Farmers’ Adoption of Farm-Level Compost Production

Abstract

Farm-level compost production involves the conversion of crop residues, animal manure, household organic materials, and other biodegradable farm wastes into organic materials that can be used to improve soil fertility and crop production. Compost provides an alternative source of soil nutrients and organic matter and can help farmers manage agricultural waste while improving soil structure, moisture retention, and productivity. Appropriate compost production practices such as material selection, sorting, size reduction, layering, moisture management, turning, decomposition, maturation, and proper application are important for producing quality compost. Farmers’ adoption of these practices can contribute to sustainable soil fertility management and efficient utilisation of farm resources. This study will assess farmers’ adoption of farm-level compost production. The study will determine the extent to which farmers adopt recommended compost production practices and identify the specific techniques that are widely or less frequently adopted. It will also examine farmers’ sources of information on compost production, access to agricultural extension services, and the availability of materials and technical support required for compost preparation. The study will focus on farmers’ adoption of organic material selection, waste sorting, preparation of composting sites, material size reduction, layering, moisture control, aeration, turning, temperature monitoring, decomposition, maturation, compost quality assessment, storage, and application practices. Attention will also be given to farmers’ use of crop residues, animal manure, weeds, and other biodegradable materials in compost production, as well as their knowledge and application of recommended composting periods and methods. A quantitative research approach will be adopted for the study. Data will be collected from selected farmers using structured questionnaires designed to obtain information on their adoption of farm-level compost production practices, sources of information, extension contact, availability of organic materials, and access to composting resources. The data will be analysed using descriptive statistics such as frequency counts, percentages, means, and standard deviations, while correlation and regression analysis will be used to examine factors associated with farmers’ adoption of farm-level compost production. The study is expected to reveal varying levels of adoption of farm-level compost production practices among farmers. Farmers with greater access to extension services, practical demonstrations, training, and technical information may demonstrate higher levels of adoption. The study may also identify constraints affecting adoption, including inadequate technical knowledge, labour requirements, limited availability of suitable composting materials, insufficient water, lack of appropriate tools, limited extension contact, and farmers’ perceptions about the benefits of compost production. The study will be useful to farmers, agricultural extension agents, environmental and agricultural development agencies, farmer associations, government institutions, researchers, and policymakers. The findings may assist in developing extension programmes that promote efficient farm waste utilisation and sustainable soil fertility management. Increased adoption of compost production may contribute to improved soil quality, reduced dependence on some external soil amendments, better farm waste management, improved crop performance, reduced environmental waste, and increased farm productivity. The study concludes that adoption of farm-level compost production can provide farmers with a practical method of converting organic farm waste into a useful soil fertility resource. It is therefore recommended that agricultural extension agencies strengthen farmer education through practical compost production demonstrations, training programmes, farm visits, field days, and advisory services. Farmers should also be supported with appropriate technical information, composting tools, and demonstrations on effective material preparation, moisture management, turning, maturation, and application to encourage wider adoption of farm-level compost production.

Keywords: Farmers’ adoption, farm-level compost production, composting practices, organic waste management, crop residues, animal manure, soil fertility, organic matter, sustainable agriculture, agricultural extension, compost quality, nutrient management, waste utilisation, soil management, agricultural productivity.