Role of knowledge in the adoption of new agricultural technologies: an approach and an application

Abstract

Empirical studies on agricultural technology adoption generally divide a population into adopters and nonadopters, and analyse the reasons for adoption or nonadoption at a point in time. In reality, technology adoption is not a one-off static decision, rather it involves a dynamic process in which information gathering, learning and experience play pivotal roles, particularly in the early stage of adoption. A conceptual framework for an adoption pathway is suggested in which farmers move from learning to adoption, to continuous or discontinuous use over time. The framework was applied to understand the adoption pathways for vertisol management technology in highland Ethiopia. Analysis of a sample of 585 households confirmed that a simple classification of farmers as adopters and nonadopters was inadequate to understand the adoption process. Rather a multistage decision process in which farmers moved from learning to adoption to continuous or discontinuous use was more appropriate. The sets of factors that significantly influenced decisions to acquire knowledge about BBM, to adopt and then to use it continuously or discontinuously were different. The lag between learning and adoption, and the possibility of discontinuation and readoption imply that a longer period will require for majority of the farmers to use the technology than if adoption was a one off decision leading to continuous use.

Analysing the potential of plant clinics to boost crop protection in Rwanda through adoption of IPM: the case of maize and maize stem borers

“…The positive high association with 'own experience', as per Table 4, suggest that practices are often implemented as the result of self-acquired knowledge, or may indicate increasing confidence generated through personal experience. The study of Jabbar et al (2003) would support this, showing that farmers move from learning to adoption, and to continuous and discontinuous use over time. The information gathered, the learning and the experience play pivotal roles in the process of adoption.…”

“…Social barriers in terms of information sources have been widely described in the literature to be an important cause of failure in the adoption of practices that do not require a substantial financial investment (Adger et al 2009;De Jalón et al 2015). Yet, the role that information and knowledge play in the uptake of recommended practices has been highlighted in various studies (Jabbar et al 2003;Abebe et al 2013). The positive high association with 'own experience', as per Table 4, suggest that practices are often implemented as the result of self-acquired knowledge, or may indicate increasing confidence generated through personal experience.…”

Behaviour of smallholder farmers towards adoption of conservation agriculture in Zimbabwe

“…Farmers who practice CA in the three districts have to prepare the basins every season as the dominant soil types are sandy. Although the proponents of CA have coined it ‘dhiga udye’ (dig and eat) in Zimbabwe, some have coined the phrase ‘dhiga ufe’ (dig and die), because of labour requirements in the preparation of basins (Andersson, Giller, Mafongoya, & Mapfumo, ).…”

“…Information is important for the adoption of new agricultural technologies (Jabbar, Saleem, Gebreselassie, & Beyene, 2003). In Japan, Palacios (2005) indicated that the attitude of farmers towards CA was influenced by socio-demographic variables.…”

Going digital in agriculture: how radio and SMS can scale-up smallholder participation in legume-based sustainable agricultural intensification practices and technologies in Tanzania

“…Any adoption decision is preceded by a period of awareness and learning/acquisition of knowledge (Rogers, 1995). Initially, there might be a limited amount of information available or only a limited amount of available information might be digested (Jabbar et al, 2003). New knowledge and experience are gained also through observation of adopters, which might lead to increase/or modify the technology a farmer is adopting, or to discontinue the use of a technology.…”