Abstract:
Purpose: Declining soil fertility is worrying in sub-Saharan Africa.
Various technologies serve to mitigate or rebuild soil fertility, but
Uptake by farmers, especially smallholders, is low. The study
addresses this adoption problem in a novel way, assessing
Empirically, many factors from various domains (economic, socio-demographic, individual, institutional, networks and information)
sources) to identify what drives adoption.
Design/Methodology/Approach: The panel study used data from
baseline and endline surveys with 1870 smallholders in Ghana,
Kenya, Mali, and Zambia. Quantitative data were analysed
simultaneously via logistic regression, complemented by qualitative
interviews. The study demonstrates the advantage of panel studies.
as they can measure changes in practice or in farmers’ attitudes.
Findings: Individual factors, for example, innovativeness, perception
about soil fertility and correct knowledge, have the biggest
influence on adoption. Socio-demographic and economic factors, by
Contrast plays hardly any role, as do individual information sources.
Practical implications: Future research should focus on in-depth
studies of individual factors, e.g. innovativeness and knowledge, and
on the information environment of farmers. Communication efforts
must primarily target innovative farmers, ensure high quality,
address competing messages and communicate through many
different channels.
Theoretical implications: The importance of ‘intrinsic’ factors that
have previously been overlooked in adoption studies in SSA
becomes clear.
Originality/Value: The study is one of very few that empirically
assesses a wide range of independent variables to identify the
drivers of adoption. It reports not only significance but also effect sizes.
