The impact of agricultural innovation system on productivity of smallholder crop farmers in Mbombela local municipality.

Abstract

The Agricultural Innovation System (AIS) serves as a vital mechanism for providing agricultural research-based knowledge, extension support, and introducing innovations into agricultural use. Through collaborations among multiple actors and the implementation of conducive policies, AIS helps smallholder crop farmers (SCFs) enhance productivity, promote resource efficiency, strengthen food security, foster sustainable agricultural development, and ultimately ensure sustainable livelihoods. This study aims to investigate the impact of AIS on the productivity of smallholder crop farmers in Mbombela Local Municipality, with a focus on crop yield-increasing innovations such as improved seeds, chemical fertilisers, chemical pesticides, and irrigation systems. A quantitative research design was employed, and data were collected from 308 systematically selected SCFs’ using a structured questionnaire administered through survey interviews. Descriptive statistics, including frequency counts and percentages, and inferential statistics, such as Propensity Score Matching (PSM) and binary logistic regression, were used to analyse the data through Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 29.0 and STATA version 14.0. The results indicated that farmers in the study area received extension support services in the form of input support (71.4%), financial assistance (70.1%), training (67.5%), technical advisory services (58.4%), and infrastructural support (4.5%). Propensity Score Matching results demonstrated that the use of improved seeds significantly increased crop yields across all crops, with the highest impact on tomato, cabbage, and maize (6.941 tons/ha, 8.905 tons/ha, and 3.854 tons/ha, respectively). Chemical fertilisers also showed positive effects, significantly improving yields for tomato, chilies, and maize (7.541 tons/ha, 3.318 tons/ha, and 5.022 tons/ha, respectively), but had no statistically significant effect on cabbage. Chemical pesticides increased yields for tomatoes (6.703 tons/ha) and chilies (1.294 tons/ha) but had no statistically significant effect on cabbage and maize. The use of irrigation systems resulted in yield increases for all crops, with tomato and cabbage farmers experiencing the highest gains (7.273 tons/ha and 8.851 tons/ha, respectively). Binary logistic regression results revealed that inadequate knowledge, limited access to credit, high input costs, unfavourable climatic conditions, weak social networks, and socio-economic characteristics such as gender, age group, level of education, main source of off-farm income, and cooperative membership significantly constrained SCFs’ use of agricultural innovations. Based on the findings, the study concluded that SCFs’ in the study area mostly receive input support, followed by financial support and training support, while technical advisory support is less common, and infrastructure support is the most lacking. AIS positively impacts productivity by increasing crop yields, particularly through the use of improved seeds, chemical fertilisers, chemical pesticides, and irrigation systems, with the most notable effects observed in tomato, cabbage, and maize farming. However, the ineffectiveness of chemical fertilisers and chemical pesticides for specific crops, such as cabbage and maize, requires further investigation. Additionally, SCFs in the study area face constraints that hinder SCFs ability to use these innovations. The study recommends targeted interventions to address gaps in support services and barriers to innovation usage to enhance smallholder crop productivity and sustainability. Future research should evaluate the impacts of AIS across a broader range of agricultural innovations and geographic areas to inform policy effectively.