Ghana | Beyond the Bottle: Factors Affecting Adoption of Liquid Urine Fertiliser among Smallholder Farmers in Southern Malawi

Beyond Boundaries: Social Science Perspectives on Identity, Innovation, Inclusion, and Climate Resilience in the Digital Age |

9th School of Social Sciences International Conference,

University of Ghana | 10-12 March 2026

1.0 Introduction

The 9th School of Social Sciences International Conference, held from March 10–12, 2026, at the University of Ghana, presented an outstanding opportunity to present my research titled Beyond the Bottle: Factors Affecting Adoption of Liquid Urine Fertiliser among Smallholder Farmers in Southern Malawi. The conference brought together experts to discuss key challenges in social science, with a specific focus on climate resilience, sustainability, and innovation. My participation was made possible by the Future Africa Research Leader Fellowship (FAR-LeaF II), which continues to support my work on climate-resilient agricultural innovations in Malawi. The conference provided an excellent platform to engage with fellow researchers and professionals, exchange ideas, and advance research on the role of sustainable farming practices in climate-vulnerable regions.

2.0 Key Insights Relevant to FAR-LeaF II Research

The conference offered a mix of presentations, discussions, and networking sessions that provided valuable insights and reaffirmed the relevance of my FAR-LeaF II research on liquid urine fertilisers. The following key learnings align with my research goals:

2.1 Climate Resilience and Smallholder Farmers

Key Insight: Discussions centred on smallholder farmers' challenges in adapting to climate change, with a focus on affordable, sustainable agricultural practices. This resonates with my work on the adoption of liquid urine fertilisers, which presents a low-cost alternative to synthetic fertilisers in regions like Southern Malawi.

2.2 Social Perception and Technology Adoption

Key Insight: Research on technology adoption emphasised the socio-cultural barriers, particularly in the context of sustainable farming practices. Perceptions about odour and waste management are crucial factors influencing adoption—critical barriers identified in my own research.

2.3 Institutional Support for Innovation

Key Insight: The role of institutional support, particularly in policy and extension services, was discussed in the context of scaling agricultural innovations. This is relevant to my FAR-LeaF II research, as strengthening extension services for the adoption of urine fertiliser is a critical component of scaling this practice.

3.0 Alignment with Fellowship Objectives

This conference reinforced the objectives of the FAR-LeaF II fellowship by deepening my understanding of the barriers to adopting sustainable practices and offering potential solutions through technology integration. The key areas of alignment include:

• Enhancing Climate Resilience: The conference reinforced the importance of adopting affordable, sustainable agricultural technologies like urine fertiliser to improve the climate resilience of smallholder farmers.

• Promoting Inclusive Innovation: The discussions on inclusive innovation emphasised the need for solutions that integrate vulnerable communities, which directly supports the FAR-LeaF II objective of making climate-smart technologies accessible to marginalised farmers.

• Strengthening Research-Practice Links: The conference highlighted the gap between academic research and field application. This resonates with the ongoing efforts in my FAR-LeaF II fellowship to ensure that research on urine fertilisers is translated into scalable field solutions.

4.0 Revised Action Plan for Research Integration

Building on the insights gained at the conference, I plan to integrate the lessons learned into my FAR-LeaF II research project on urine fertilisers. This plan will focus on:

2026: Field Validation and Pilot Studies

• Collaborating with extension services to adapt liquid fertigation techniques for granulated urine fertiliser trials.

2027: Digital Monitoring and Impact Evaluation

• Developing a digital monitoring framework using IoT and drones to assess fertiliser performance and soil health in real-time.

2028: Scaling and Partnerships

• Establishing a formal Malawi-China research partnership to focus on the commercialisation of urine fertiliser blending and stabilising products.

5.0 Conclusion

My participation in the 9th School of Social Sciences International Conference provided valuable insights. It reinforced the relevance of my FAR-LeaF II research on liquid urine fertilisers for smallholder farmers in Southern Malawi. The exchange of ideas and experiences will directly enhance the impact of my work, as it continues to focus on improving climate resilience and food security through sustainable farming innovations.

I extend my sincere gratitude to Future Africa and the University of Pretoria for their continued support, which enabled me to participate in this transformative event.

---

Abstract: The growing demand for affordable and sustainable soil fertility solutions in sub-Saharan Africa has renewed interest in human-derived organic inputs such as urine fertiliser. Despite its agronomic potential, uptake among smallholder farmers remains limited. This study examines the factors shaping awareness, adoption, and intensity of urine fertiliser use among smallholder farmers in Southern Malawi. Data were collected from 251 smallholder farmers, all of whom were members of at least one organised farmer group, reflecting the strong institutional embeddedness of rural agriculture. A Triple-Hurdle Model was employed to sequentially analyse the determinants of awareness, adoption conditional on awareness, and intensity of use conditional on adoption. Descriptive statistics complemented the econometric analysis. Descriptive findings showed that 46% of farmers were aware of urine fertiliser, while 32% had applied it. In the first hurdle, education level and extension contact significantly increased awareness, whereas odour concerns significantly reduced it. Conditional on awareness, adoption was positively influenced by extension contact and farm size, while perceived costs and odour concerns emerged as key deterrents. The Inverse Mills Ratio was negative and statistically significant, confirming the presence of selection bias between awareness and adoption. In the third hurdle, intensity of use increased with extension contact, farm size, and poultry ownership, but declined significantly with odour-related concerns. The results indicate that while farmer organisations enhance information access, actual uptake and sustained use of urine fertiliser depend on effective extension engagement, household resource endowments, and perception management. Addressing sensory concerns and cost perceptions is critical for scaling adoption. Policy interventions should prioritise demonstration-based learning, odour-mitigation strategies, and the integration of urine fertiliser into circular bioeconomy frameworks that link sanitation and agriculture.

Keywords: Urine fertiliser adoption; Smallholder farmers; Triple-hurdle model; Extension services; Circular bioeconomy; Sustainable agriculture