ABSTRACT
Chapter 2 showed how farmers are primarily concerned with stable and economic production (Shaxson, 1996; Hudson, 1983, Thurston, 1992:9). They readily identify a number of obstacles to attaining higher and more stable yields, including pests and diseases and a lack of economic resources. Few farmers identify soil erosion as an obstacle to productivity, despite the fact that much of the research and extension agenda is driven by the goal of erosion control. This may partly explain why farmers have not readily adopted soil conservation recommendations although, as Chapter 2 clearly illustrates, there are also a host of compounding reasons for farmer non-adoption including labour and land shortages.
