Does Information Acquisition Influence the Adoption of Sustainable Land Management Practices? Evidence From Mpumalanga Province South Africa

Abstract

Agricultural information plays a vital role in adopting agricultural technology. The study explored if information acquisition is related to the adoption of sustainable land management practices (SLMP) and jointly decided in Mpumalanga Province of South Africa. Primary data were collected through face-to-face interviews, using a proportionate random sampling technique to get 250 smallholder farmers to participate in the survey. A seemingly unrelated bivariate probit (SUBP) model and a recursive bivariate probit (RBP) model were adopted to examine the objective. The statistical estimation of the SUBP showed that there is a relationship, an empirical association between information acquisition and SLMP; while RBP estimation showed that information acquisition was exogenous in the adoption model; thus, the decision to acquire information and adopt SLMP was not jointly decided. Therefore, the study presents the determinants of information acquisition alongside with the adoption of SLPM. The result from the SUBP model, indicated that the years spent in school; agricultural extension service; the number of extension visits and the years of farming, influenced both information acquisition and the adoption of SLMP. The cost attached positively influenced the adoption of SLMP; while gender, marital status and age only influenced the information acquisition.

The Nexus between Access to Agricultural Extension Services and Adoption of Sustainable Soil Conservation Practices in Limu Districts, Oromia, Ethiopia

“…The probable justification is that the provision of extension services improves the awareness of farmers and reduces the primitive way of soil conservation practices. This result is congruent with the findings of Oduniyi and Tekana (2021). Sex of household head: In most developing countries gender differences are significant.…”

“…There are several studies conducted to show the linkage between access to agricultural extension services and the adoption of sustainable soil conservation practices. Oduniyi and Tekana (2021) analyzed the linkage between information acquisition and the adoption of sustainable land management practices (SLMP) and found that the years spent in school; agricultural extension service; the number of extension visits and the years of farming, influenced both information acquisition and the adoption of soil conservation practices.…”

The adoption of combine harvester and its determinant factors for sustainable rice production in Aceh Besar District, Indonesia

“…Sandee and Rietveld [12] argue that technology adoption is not solely determined by costs and the level of benefits gained from innovation adoption, but that access to technological information also plays a crucial role. Farmers' decision to adopt new technological practices is preceded by the information received or acquired about the introduced technology [13]. Research findings indicate a significant correlation between access to media and group interaction and farmers' adoption levels.…”

The Nexus between Access to Agricultural Extension Services and Adoption of Sustainable Soil Conservation Practices in Limu Districts, Oromia, Ethiopia

“…There are several studies conducted to show the linkage between access to agricultural extension services and the adoption of sustainable soil conservation practices. Oduniyi and Tekana (2021) analyzed the linkage between information acquisition and the adoption of sustainable land management practices (SLMP) and found that the years spent in school; agricultural extension service; the number of extension visits and the years of farming, in uenced both information acquisition and the adoption of soil conservation practices.…”