Although numerous studies have reported an increased yield upon adoption to improved agricultural practices (IAPs), yet smallholder farmers face limited access to this information. The objective of this study was to assess smallholder farmers' awareness and adoption of IAPs. A total of 206 active and registered households were surveyed by mixed sampling in the Mbeya region. The data was collected from smallholder farmers using the ODK collect tool through a well-structured questionnaire. The probit model and One-way ANOVA test were performed to identify predictor variables. Results pointed out that farming period, top dressing, flood exposure, fallowing time, soil information on IAPs, and knowledge about soil type showed a significant difference (p < 0.05) on the farmers’ adoption of IAPs. Moreover, 81% and 72% of the smallholder farmers surveyed showed a lack of awareness regarding the specific soil type and general soil information related to their farmland, respectively. Only 24% of farmers relied on agricultural experts (extension service officers) to get information on IAPs whereas 65% of the respondents were unfamiliar with neither Agricultural Extension Officers, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), Tanzania Agricultural Research Institute (TARI), nor Researchers from Higher Learning Institution (RHLI). About 59% of the female-headed households were found to have a better soil information on IAPs than men at a 5% significant level. Age and education level do not affect farmers’ adoption of IAPs with 72.5% of respondents motivated to adopt various IAPs in the surveyed area. This study highlights the need to highly consider agricultural extension officers as important agents in linking smallholder farmers with NGOs programs, agricultural research findings, and government programs to improve their livelihood. Graphical abstract

Land Use and Land Cover (LULC) changes due to human activities and natural factors significantly influence the variation in Ecosystem Service Values (ESVs). This study assessed the spatio-temporal dynamics of ESVs in Baringo, an Arid and Semi-Arid Land (ASAL) county located in Kenya’s Great Rift Valley, over 24 years (2000–2024). The Benefit Transfer Method (BTM) was employed to estimate ESV changes using LULC data for the years 2000, 2014, and 2024, alongside updated valuation coefficients from the Ecosystem Services Valuation Database (ESVD) published by de Groot and others in 2020. The analysis revealed a substantial decline in the total ESVs in Baringo County, from United States Dollars (US$) 25.70 billion in 2000 to US$14.92 billion in 2024, representing a loss of US$ -10.78 billion (-41.9%). This translates to an average annual ESV loss of approximately US$ -448.96 million. Forestland reduction emerged as the primary driver of this decline, whereas expansion of water bodies contributed positively to the total ESV in the study region. These findings underscore the urgent need to combat deforestation and forest degradation while promoting the sustainable management of water resources. Such measures are essential for reversing ESV losses and achieving key Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), SDG 13 (Climate Action), and SDG 15 (Life on Land).

This study looks at the impetus of quality of state governance in supporting regional inclusiveness akin to developing the Sub-Saharan African region. Whereas the intrinsic value of state governance quality as anecdotes of better development in unique ways is universally accepted and portrays the notion of an inclusive society, its fundamental significance as a path toward equal income distribution and inclusive economic performance is still scantily understood despite the widely emerging literature. This paper's main aim is twofold: review the rising literature and, in a unique way, take a deeper look at the link between the quality of governance and regional disparity or prosperity. Secondly, the paper evaluates where the developing Sub-Saharan Africa stands in various measures of quality of governance and how it influences income inequality. The study utilizes balanced panel data from 22 Sub-Saharan African countries from 2000 to 2021. Further, the study models the relationships between the variables using Panel Fixed Effects (Panel FE-IV) and generalized system method of moments (SsyGMM). The findings show a significant positive link between government effectiveness and income inequality. Also, the results show the non-significant role of FDI in explaining increasing income inequality in SSA, paving the way for future research to interrogate the essence of FDI in promoting economic prosperity, primarily when the SSA region is heavily relying upon FDI inflows for development.