I see this award as a recognition of the research effort and a job well done. It is a validation and an endorsement of a researcher's contributions to a field of study and, perhaps, sometimes, a communication of appreciation by funding bodies.
Dr Nkechi Owoo was one of three women researchers from Ghana and Nigeria who won the Environment for Development (EfD) Initiative’s 2022 Peter Berck’s Best Discussion Paper Award. The team was recognised for their research on the role of social networks in the diffusion and adoption of soil conservation practices over space and time in Nigeria.
She is a Senior Lecturer at the Department of Economics at the University of Ghana and was the team's lead investigator. She said engaging with several stakeholders in Nigeria’s agricultural and natural resources space was essential to the project. It ensured that the contributions of non-academic actors and practitioners in the country were considered and incorporated into the research.
The results can help target necessary interventions, and the study is expected to feed into the knowledge base for directing actions and programs to promote soil conservation in Nigeria.
Dr Owoo states that many social and economic phenomena we observe have strong locational effects but are often ignored in the usual empirical analyses. The importance of these effects is particularly relevant in farming communities where there is likely to be frequent interactions and influence among farmers on shared/standard farming practices. This paper showcases the strength of neighbourhood effects in explaining farmers' adoption of soil conservation practices in Nigeria.
Soil erosion is a common challenge that many Nigerian farmers face – indeed, the issue is common among farmers across communities in developing countries. Research has shown that characteristics like education, wealth, and gender, among others, are essential determinants of soil conservation practices among farmers in Nigeria. More recently, there has been an emphasis on spatial effects in influencing these adoption behaviours.
Tell us more about the research:
In our research, we combine what we know about spatial and temporal influences to examine whether neighbourhood effects in an earlier period have implications for farmers’ conservation behaviours in the present period.
Share with us some insights related to the stakeholders:
We involved relevant stakeholders in the agricultural space in Nigeria, for example, the Federal Ministries of Agriculture and Environment, the Nigerian Agricultural Insurance Corporation, the Nigeria Institute of Soil Science and the Economic Social and Cultural Council of the African Union (AU-ECOSOCC). Stakeholder engagement was critical for seeking input from these essential actors and validating the research results.
After completing the research, we translated what we had learned into different formats for our diverse audiences. These included a one-page research brief on the main motivations, methodology and findings from the research; a four-page policy brief focused on the policy messages we hoped to convey following the empirical study; and finally, an academic, more technical, working paper.”
Tell us more about the findings:
The findings suggest that conservation behaviours between farming neighbours correlate over time and across space. This provides a basis for policies to promote the most effective information diffusion methods among farmers. The results are also helpful for the appropriate targeting of necessary interventions. The study is expected to feed into the knowledge base for directing actions and programmes to promote soil conservation in Nigeria.
What would your advice to young researchers be?
The exploration of research ideas, the discovery of new knowledge, and the opportunity to communicate findings to audiences are exhilarating for me. The entire process can initially seem intimidating but rewarding when done correctly. I cannot say that it is any less nerve-wracking over time, but one learns to manage a few anxieties and the feeling of having made a valuable contribution, however small, is well worth it. I think the ‘magic mix’ is enjoying and doing what you do well.
What does this award mean to you?
I see this award as a recognition of the research effort and a job well done. It is a validation and an endorsement of a researcher's contributions to a field of study and, perhaps, sometimes, a communication of appreciation by funding bodies.
Dr Owoo shares her award with fellow researchers Dr Monica Lambon-Quayefio from Ghana and Dr Ebele Amaechina from Nigeria. She acknowledges the EfD Initiative for the technical and financial support, which she described as critical to the success of this study.
Heidi Sonnekus | FAR-LeaF Program
