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Climate resilient bio-management of agricultural waste through vermicomposting to produce organic fertilizer

2026-06-01T00:00:00Z

Title: Climate resilient bio-management of agricultural waste through vermicomposting to produce organic fertilizer Authors: Wanyonyi, Clifftone Mbuku Abstract: Sustainable management of agricultural waste and declining soil fertility remain major challenges for agriculture, particularly under increasing climate-induced stress. This study evaluated the effectiveness of vermicomposting using Eisenia fetida and molasses to convert combinations of cow dung, poultry waste, and vegetable waste into nutrient-rich organic fertilizer. A Completely Randomized Design (CRD) was used for decomposition assessment, while a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) evaluated effects on soil health, crop yield, and drought resilience in lettuce. Results showed that vermicomposting significantly accelerated decomposition compared to conventional composting. Earthworm activity enhanced microbial processes, waste fragmentation, and nutrient mineralization, while mixed substrates produced synergistic effects that improved nutrient availability. Vermicompost treatments demonstrated superior agronomic quality, indicating advanced maturity and reduced phytotoxicity. Nutrient analysis revealed increased macronutrient concentrations, particularly in mixed waste treatments, confirming enhanced mineralization and bioavailability. Application of vermicompost improved soil fertility, structure, and microbial activity, creating favorable conditions for plant growth. Lettuce grown in vermicompost-amended soils exhibited higher fresh and dry biomass, improved yield, and greater drought resilience. These improvements were linked to enhanced soil moisture retention, improved root development, and slow-release nutrient availability. Additionally, molasses served as an energy source for microbial communities, accelerating decomposition and enhancing humification, resulting in stable, carbon-rich compost. Improved soil aggregation and water retention further supported plant performance under water stress, while enhanced root proliferation increased nutrient uptake efficiency and drought tolerance.These findings demonstrate that vermicomposting with Eisenia fetida, especially using mixed organic wastes, is a low-cost, climate-smart, and biologically efficient strategy for sustainable agricultural waste management and soil improvement.

Adaptation strategies to the impacts of climate change: smallholder farmers’ decision-making on climate-smart practices adoption

2026-01-01T00:00:00Z

Title: Adaptation strategies to the impacts of climate change: smallholder farmers’ decision-making on climate-smart practices adoption Authors: Calvince, Andele O. Abstract: Climate change severely threatens stallholder agriculture in Mozambique, where frequent droughts, floods, and cyclones undermine food security. Climate-smart agriculture (CSA) offers resilience-enhancing practices, yet despite decades of promotion, adoption among smallholders remain low, limiting climate adaptation. This thesis investigates farmers’ perceptions of CSA practices and determinants of adoption, and synthesizes evidence on how digital agricultural technologies influence CSA decision-making. The study comprises a cross- sectional survey of 400 smallholder farmers in Zavala district, Mozambique, and a systematic review of 82 studies across sub-Saharan Africa. Results show that awareness of 13 CSA practices ranged from 47-100%. Three awareness-knowledge patterns emerged–awareness exceeding knowledge (rainwater harvesting, 81% awareness vs. 39% knowledge), knowledge exceeding awareness (improved varieties, 67% knowledge vs. 47% awareness), and aligned awareness and knowledge patterns for eight practices. Understanding of CSA principles lagged considerably (r = 0.151) with knowledge. Perceived compatibility (β = 0.342) and trialability (β = 0.418) were the strongest adoption drivers. The systematic review identified three complementary pathways through which digital technologies influence perceptions: real-time information provision, predictive analytics and integrated indigenous-scientific systems. Education was the strongest predictor of awareness-knowledge pattern: secondary-educated farmers knew nearly triple the practices of primary-only farmers (11.60 vs 6.82, p < 0.001). Women outperformed men on awareness (11.34 vs 7.47), knowledge (10.21 vs 6.82) and principles (9.45 vs 6.24) all at p < 0.001. Multinomial logistic regression showed that age (OR = 0.391), male gender (OR = 0.068), farming experience (OR = 1.322), and cooperative membership (p < 0.026) significantly differentiated adoption levels. Linear regression explained 83% of variance in awareness, 87% in knowledge but only 7.6% in understanding of principles. Systematic review identified interconnected infrastructural, economic, institutional, and gender as barriers to adoption. These findings imply that extension should shift from awareness campaigns to principle-based participatory training, align terminologies with farmers language, invest in secondary education, leverage women as peer educators, and address structural barriers like infrastructural, credit, and land rights. Digital technologies require simultaneous investment in enabling environments to scale, and adoption depends more on deep understanding and compatibility than simple awareness

Ecosystem-based adaptation practices for smallholder farmers’ climate resilience in Mabalane district

2026-06-01T00:00:00Z

Title: Ecosystem-based adaptation practices for smallholder farmers’ climate resilience in Mabalane district Authors: Waran, Claudius Patrick Taban Abstract: Ecosystem-based adaptation practices emerged as a sustainable strategy for enhancing smallholder farmers’ climate resilience, particularly in drought-prone areas where declining crop yields threaten livelihoods and food security. However, limited research has examined smallholder farmers’ perceptions of the effectiveness and co-benefits of ecosystem-based adaptation practices. This study investigated the perceived effectiveness of ecosystem-based adaptation practices, co-benefits smallholder farmers derived at farm-level, and their influence on adoption decisions among smallholder farmers. A mixed method approach was employed, combining a one-time household survey of 360 farm household heads conducted between 11 September and 11 October 2025 with focus group discussions and key informant interviews in the Mabalane district. The findings identified mixed cropping (83.9%), integrated crop- livestock management (57.2%), and mulch tillage (51.1%) as the most widely adopted ecosystem-based adaptation practices. Smallholder farmers perceived these practices as effective primarily because of their visible contributions to improved soil fertility, soil moisture content, crop productivity, and food security. Additionally, multiple ecological and socio- economic co-benefits, including erosion control, pest regulation, enhanced agrobiodiversity, and income diversification were reported. Although the study revealed statistically significant relationships between ecosystem-based adaptation practices and the perceived co-benefits, these co-benefits were not statistically significant associated with an increase in the number of adopted practices. The results suggest that while perceived effectiveness and co-benefits reinforce the value of ecosystem-based adaptation practices, adoption decisions among smallholder farmers were not driven by the perceived axillary benefits derived from ecosystem- based adaptation practices alone, but a broader set of factors, including enabling conditions and resource endowments. Therefore, it is concluded that, the predominance of three main ecosystem-based adaptation practices in the study area reflects their compatibility with traditional farming systems and their direct contributions in strengthening local climate resilience

Effects of climate variability on rice production and farmers’ resilience in Liberia

2026-06-01T00:00:00Z

Title: Effects of climate variability on rice production and farmers’ resilience in Liberia Authors: Simpson, Bondo T. Abstract: Climate variability poses major challenges to agriculture worldwide amid increasing population growth and rising food demand. In Liberia, rice is a staple crop, however, its production remains low and highly vulnerable to changing climate conditions. This study evaluates the impact of climate variability on rice production while identifying suitable areas for sustainable rice cultivation in Liberia. Rice production and yield data were obtained from the Food and Agriculture Organization Statistics (FAOSTAT) database, while climate variables (temperature and precipitation) were sourced from ERA5 Agrometeorological Indicators and Climate Hazards Group InfraRed Precipitation with Station (CHIRPS), for the period of 1990–2023. Climate trends and relationships with rice production were examined using the Mann–Kendall test, Sen’s slope estimator, and Spearman’s rank correlation, while Multiple Linear Regression was applied to estimate climate impacts on rice productivity. In addition, a GIS-based Multi-Criteria Decision- Making approach using the Analytic Hierarchy Process was employed to map rice suitability. Results indicate that mean, minimum, and maximum temperatures increased by 0.57 °C, 0.55 °C, and 0.55 °C, with a strong variability in precipitation, reaching 180.31 mm. Production observed a total increase of 76,200 tons, while yield remained relative stable at 1.2 tone/hectare. Regression results revealed a significant negative impact of minimum temperature (p = 0.015) on rice production and a positive effect of precipitation on yield (p = 0.036). Suitability analysis shows that 5.57% of Liberia is highly suitable, 44.57% suitable, 42.41% moderately suitable, and 7.45% unsuitable for rice cultivation, with soil pH, slope, and soil texture identified as key limiting factors. Highly suitable areas are found in the central, northern, and southeastern counties, including Lofa, Bong, Nimba, Gbarpolu, Grand Gedeh, and River Gee. Overall, the findings highlight the sensitivity of rice production to climate variability and demonstrate significant potential for expanding rice cultivation through strategic land-use planning, improved technologies, and institutional support to strengthen farmer resilience and national food security