Adoption of agricultural technology in the developing world: A meta-analysis of the empirical literature

• DOI: 10.1016/j.worlddev.2021.105599
• Publication Date: 2021-06-17T23:03:32Z
• Authors: Sacha Ruzzante; Ricardo Labarta; Amy Bilton
• Keywords: Agricultural extension; Early adopter

Agricultural technologies have long been promoted by governments and development organizations as effective ways to increase farm productivity reduce poverty. However, adoption of many seemingly beneficial remains low. Empirical studies attempt identify the motivation for based on differences in characteristics between adopters non-adopters. This study investigates variables that regularly explain across contexts using a meta-analysis 367 regression models from published literature. We find that, average, farmer education, household size, land access credit, tenure, extension services, organization membership positively correlate with agricultural technologies. Technologies categories improved varieties chemical inputs are adopted more readily larger farms, which casts doubt scale-neutrality these credit can influence adoption, but researchers should measure whether farmers constrained, rather than simply or not they credit. While services may substitute education case varieties, two appear be complementary natural resource management Land tenure encourage techniques, we it most influential planning horizons, such erosion control methods. Unsurprisingly, although some patterns identified when results averaged, determinants vary widely technology, cultural context, geography. Based observations, provide recommendations policy makers, but, given variability results, conclude efforts promote developing world must adapted suit local contexts.