Factors Affecting Uptake of Organic Soil Amendment Techniques to Sustainable Land Management: Case of Integrated Land Use Design Techniques in Schools and Communal Farming Communities

Abstract

The study was carried out in schools teaching organic farming technologies in Zimbabwe. The research sought to find out effective implementation strategies of farming innovations through schools community integration. The selected schools consisted of 5 primary schools and 3 secondary schools. Structured questionnaires were administered to 55 primary school pupils and teachers, 34 secondary school pupils and teachers and 40 small holder farmers within the school environs. People who participated in the study had been trained in organic soil amendment techniques. It was found out that schools and surrounding farmers were trying out new organic soil amendment techniques, with the primary school sector practicing more of the new technologies than the secondary schools and the communal farming sector. It was also found out that schools had similar constraints that inhibited the uptake of organic farming technologies. The study recommended that introduction of innovations into the farming communities should be done through young people of primary school going age.