Factors Influencing Farmers’ Decision for Adopting Improved Kounouz Variety and Feed Blocks in Tunisia

Abstract

Despite the high potential of agricultural innovative technologies, the adoption rate by the small farmers in the context of livestock-barley systems in Tunisia is very slow. This paper aims to understand the main factors influencing farmers’ decision for adopting improved Kounouz variety and feed blocks in Tunisia. This study presents an analytical framework that combines both extrinsic and intrinsic factors in farmers’ decisions to adopt new agricultural technologies and apply the framework to Kounouz variety and feed blocks adoption as a case study. A quantitative approach employing a cross-sectional design was used to gather data. Stratified random sampling was employed and a total of 671small-scale farmers were selected. Data analysis and assessment was done through descriptive and statistical inferential analysis, and econometric modeling using the binary logistic regression model. The results show that the uptake of agricultural technologies is a complex process influenced by both extrinsic and intrinsic variables.

The innovation characteristics like the benefits perceived, the knowledge needed, the payment and availability of inputs and resources have the major influence on the adoption of Kounouz variety and feed blocks for smallholder farmers. To a lesser extent, the characteristics of the farmer affect adoption indirectly by influencing the knowledge, attitudes and perceptions, which in turn influence the farmers’ decisions of whether or not to adopt Kounouz variety and feed blocks. The characteristics of the external environment have a moderate and high influence for adopting Kounouz variety and feed blocks respectively. For the communication and extension dimension, the distance to the extension office affect negatively the farmers’ decision for adopting Kounouz variety. To improve the adoption of Kounouz variety and the feed blocks in the study area, Government should understand what knowledge and attitudes farmers have in relation to these technologies and how these are brought to them. Then, this policy can redesign these technologies to the preferences and the specific conditions of farmers for a better adoption and sustainability.