Mduma, John K.2016-07-192016-07-192007Mduma, J.K., 2007. Does Rural Labor Markets Affect Soil Conservation? Case Study of Kilimanjaro, Tanzania. Journal of Agronomy, 6(1), p.228.http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11810/3267This study takes on the debate on whether or not increased off-farm employment compromises the adoption and the intensity of adopting some labor intensive soil conserving technologies. The research first presents a theoretical framework of household adoption of soil conserving technologies in the presence of imperfect labor markets. Theoretically, it is shown then the overall effect is indeterminate. The study goes a step further by taking a case study of Kilimanjaro region in Tanzania and finds evidence that household participation in off-farm employment compromised soil conservation. Households supplying labor off-farm are generally associated with reduced adoption of terraces, hedgerows and cut-offs. The negative impact of supplying labor off-farm can be moderately cushioned when households also hire labor to work on the construction or maintenance of soil conserving structures. However, it is shown that hired labor is not a perfect substitute for households` own labor and does not fully off-set the effect of a household`s off-farm labor supply.enSoil conservartionOff-farm employmentRural labor marketsTanzaniaJournal Article, Peer Reviewed10.3923/ja.2007.228.234