Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices of Small-Scale Tobacco Farmers on Agricultural Diversification: A Case Study of Hurungwe District, Zimbabwe

Abstract

The focus of this study was to establish the nature and state of knowledge, attitude, and practice of agricultural diversification by small-scale tobacco farmers in Hurungwe District. The study utilised quantitative techniques to analyse data collected from 158 small scale tobacco farmers. The data was analysed using both descriptive and inferential statistics. The descriptive statistics involved measures of central tendency, cross tabulations, and scoring. For inferential statistics, Tobit Regression and Binary Logistic Regression were used to assess the determinants of knowledge and attitude, respectively. The influence of different socio-economic demographic characteristics, knowledge, and attitude on the practice of agricultural diversification was determined using the Binary Logistic Regression. The majority (67%) of households are headed by men and have fair access to both media and extension services. Most households are headed by people above the age of 45. Farmers had fair knowledge of agricultural diversification principles and practices. The Attitude Score was 374/790 and the Attitude Index was 0.47; the generalised attitude of farmers towards agricultural diversification was negative. Regression analysis showed that knowledge and attitude are both shaped by access to media and extension. Agricultural diversification is being practiced at subsistence level and tobacco is the sole cash crop for many farmers. The Binary Logistic Regression analysis showed that the practice of agricultural diversification is significantly influenced by education level of household head, knowledge, attitude, farm size, and access to media. Tobacco growing experience, age and gender of household head, educational level and access to extension were not statistically significant. The study concluded that small scale tobacco farmers possess knowledge on agricultural diversification, though their attitude is negative. The practice of agricultural diversification by small-scale tobacco farmers is still marginal as most are doing it at subsistence level. Farm size, attitude and knowledge of the farmers pose the main influence on the decisions of farmers to diversify, and both are influenced by access to extension and media. Thus, mass media campaigns and reformation of extension services can be effective tools in communicating the diversification policy to farmers and a source of instant feedback. Policy efforts must be directed to training of farmers through extension and media campaigns to improve their knowledge and change their attitude towards agricultural diversification. The study recommends rolling out of mass media campaigns and reform of extension services to include content on agricultural diversification especially for extension workers from tobacco companies.