Improving the acceptability to farmers of soil conservation practices

Non-adoption of soil conservation practices by farmers in low-income countries is a major obstacle to reversing soil degradation. Farmer involvement in designing these practices is required to improve adoption. This study tested participatory research methods which dramatically increased adoption among 115 farmers over the first year, and stimulated farmer-to-farmer recommendations leading to adoption by an even larger number of farmers. Farmers' evaluations were shown to predict future acceptability of optional practices. When participatory research methods are wed to elicit farmers' input into the design of recommendations, these can help to realize the potential of many hitherto unadopted conservation practices.