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Research Article
Department of Agriculture Technology, Faculty of Agriculture, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang 43400, Selangor,
1
Malaysia; 2Department of Agriculture Extension, Faculty of Agriculture Economics and Extension, Afghanistan National
Agricultural Sciences and Technology University, Kandahar 3801, Afghanistan; 3Department of Agribusiness, Faculty of
Agriculture Economics and Extension, Afghanistan National Agricultural Sciences and Technology University, Kandahar 3801,
Afghanistan. 4Department of Agriculture Economics and Extension, Faculty of Agriculture, Kabul University, Kabul 2400,
Afghanistan.
Abstract | This study examined the level of knowledge, attitude, and practice toward organic fertilizer
adoption in Uruzgan, Afghanistan. A total of 116 structured questionnaires were distributed to almond
smallholder farmers in the Tarin Kowt district. The results revealed a medium level of knowledge and attitude,
and a high level of practice toward organic fertilizer adoption among the almond smallholder farmers. The
finding showed that 97.4% of the farmers used cow manure and 20.7% used poultry manure. About 62.9%
of the farmers used 0.67-1.08 tons of organic fertilizer per acre and all (100%) farmers used it in the fall
season. The result further showed that friends, family members and radio are the main sources of information.
The major problems limiting almond production were pests and disease, limited access to certified almonds
varieties, limited access to organic fertilizers, lack of market availability for almonds and limited access to
extension services. This research provides indicators of organic and inorganic fertilizer use, as well as insights
for policymakers to better consider the sustainable application of organic fertilizer and its adoption among
farmers in order to achieve sustainable development.
Received | April 11, 2022; Accepted | October 10, 2022; Published | February 02, 2023
*Correspondence | Abdul hadi Wasil, Department of Agriculture Extension, Faculty of Agriculture Economics and Extension, Afghanistan
National Agricultural Sciences and Technology University, Kandahar 3801, Afghanistan; Email: hadiwasil99@yahoo.com
Citation | Wasil, A.H., J.A. Shah, N.B.M. Haris, S.M. Hashimi and K.M. Ahmadzai. 2023. The level of knowledge, attitude and practice toward
organic fertilizer adoption among almond smallholder farmers in Uruzgan, Afghanistan. Sarhad Journal of Agriculture, 39(1): 29-38.
DOI | https://dx.doi.org/10.17582/journal.sja/2023/39.1.29.38
Keywords | Knowledge, Attitude, Practice, Organic fertilizer adoption, Smallholder farmer, Almond farm problems
However, despite the great potentials of organic The KAP (knowledge, attitude and practice) is a
cultivation in improving soil, environmental and behavioural intervention theory where knowledge
human health as well as improving farmers’ income, is referred to as understanding any given topic,
the adoption rate of organic fertilizer is slow with the attitude as the feeling toward it along with
major factor behind this reality being farmers’ poor predefined opinions and practice as to which people
knowledge about organic cultivation (Farouque and demonstrate knowledge and attitude through actions
Sarker, 2018). In addition, the current low agricultural (Kaliyaperumal, 2004; Wang et al., 2019). The
productivity is mainly a result of low soil fertility application of KAP in research has proven to be a
combined with other independent factors such as valuable tool in examining the relationship between
inadequate input supply, e.g. low-quality seeds, lack of knowledge and attitudes or practices behaviour to
techniques and knowledge, inefficient management, understand the public’s level of awareness about a
labour shortage and poor infrastructure (Neuhoff et particular issue or topic (Puspitasari et al., 2020; Lee
al., 2014). et al., 2021). In the context of agricultural production,
González-Morales et al. (2018) demonstrated the use
The success of organic fertilizer adoption in growing of KAP in research in investigating the community’s
crops is dependent on several factors, including understanding of soil erosion. Khatun and Rahman
farmers’ awareness of environmental benefits (2020) also used the KAP to elucidate current farming
and knowledge about organic fertilizer (Thapa practices adopted by farmers and their perspectives
and Rattanasuteerakul, 2011). Farmers must also on the quality of crop production.
demonstrate an understanding of the principles of
soil quality improvement and how the use of organic Hence, the present study aims to determine the level
fertilizers promotes productive and environmentally of knowledge, attitude, and practice toward organic
friendly agriculture (Dhar et al., 2018). In fact, organic fertilizer adoption among almond smallholder
fertilizer is knowledge-intensive and requires regular farmers and to determine the major problems faced by
communications between extension officers/agents almond smallholder farmers in almond production in
and farmers (Sodjinou et al., 2015). This is why a Uruzgan, Afghanistan. Specifically, the study sought
functional extension system is critical for distributing out to address the following objectives:
information and educating farmers on the technical 1. To examine the level of knowledge, attitude,
aspects of organic farming and open discussion forum and practice toward organic fertilizer adoption
(Suvedi et al., 2017). among almond smallholder farmers in Uruzgan,
Afghanistan.
Attitude is another essential facet in addition to the 2. To determine the major problems of almond
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Major almond farm problems in Uruzgan Afghanistan organic and inorganic fertilizers. Oremo et al. (2019)
The result presented in Table 5 revealed that the also reported that most respondents in the Tsavo sub-
majority of almond smallholder farmers (75.0%) catchment had average knowledge of the integrated
faced with different kinds of pests and diseases. It water resource management principles, and a medium
is followed by 51.7% of the farmers faced with a level of attitude.
scarcity of certified varieties of almonds. Similar
findings were also reported by Tripathi et al. (2020) Table 6: Level of knowledge, attitude and practice of
that majority of the cucurbits farmers (73.0%) faced almond smallholder farmer.
pests and diseases problems, limited certified seeds Factors Level of Score Frequency Percent-
with 21.0%, and marketing problems with 5.0%. The factors (f ) age (%)
result further showed that half of the farmers (50.9%) Knowledge Low 3.48-3.98 17 14.6
had no access to organic fertilizers. The finding is in Medium 3.99-4.99 51 44.0
line with Phuong et al. (2006) who reported that the High 4.50-5.00 48 41.4
increased application of inorganic fertilizer is due to Attitude Low 1.91-2.79 12 10.3
a lack of organic fertilizer. Nearly half (47.4%) of the Medium 2.80-3.67 55 47.4
farmers claimed that the unavailability of the market High 3.68-5.00 49 42.3
is a critical problem, some of the farmers (44.0%) Practice Low 1.80-2.86 1 0.9
cited limited extension services, and 41.4% had no Medium 2.87-3.93 11 9.5
access to credit. High 3.94-5.00 104 89.6
Organic Low 1.20-2.46 1 0.9
Level of knowledge, attitude and practice fertilizer Medium 2.47-3.73 25 21.6
The responses of the almonds smallholder farmers using adoption
five points rating Likert scale questions are presented High 3.74-5.00 90 77.5
in Table 6. The result shows that 44% of the farmers
fall into the category of medium level of knowledge. It is followed by attitude, with nearly half of the
As farmers recorded a medium level of knowledge respondents (47.4%) categorized as demonstrating
toward organic fertilizer adoption, indicating that a medium level of attitude toward organic fertilizer
improved knowledge on the use of organic fertilizer is adoption. The finding is further supported by
helpful to increase farmers’ awareness of the benefits Muralikrishnan and Philip (2018) who found that
of improving crop productivity and is safe for the farmers had a medium favourable attitude toward
environment. The finding is similar to the work of eco-friendly farming practices. Contrary, Laor et
Iqbal et al. (2014) where they found more than half al. (2018) found that the respondents had the least
of the farmers had a medium level of knowledge of positive attitude level toward municipal solid waste
March 2023 | Volume 39 | Issue 1 | Page 34
This study showed that almond smallholder farmers Abdul Hadi Wasil: Conceptualization, resourc-
in the Uruzgan province had a medium level of es, data curation, writing-original draft preparation,
knowledge and attitude and a high level of practice writing-review and editing, investigation, funding ac-
March 2023 | Volume 39 | Issue 1 | Page 35