Understanding (non-)adoption of CA:

contributions from Social Psychology

Freddy van HulstHelena Posthumus

1ACCA 03-2014

Contents

• The role of adoption studiesAgricultural Capabilities

• MethodologyReasoned action approach

• Results and discussionCA in Kenya

The role of adoption studies

Tittonel et al. 2012

Agricultural capabilities

Understand farmers’ decisions

Agricultural capabilities

Window of opportunities

Realized farming system

CA or something else

Innovation diffusion

Economic constraints

Adopter perception

MethodologySocial psychology

Willing

Stimulated

Capable

Reasoned action approach

•Ploughing•Direct Planting•Spraying Herbicides •Shallow Weeding

Methodology

(future) IntentionVery unlikely

PossibleVery

likely

AttitudeVery foolish

NeutralVery wise

Important others think

I should not plough

They have no opinion

I should plough

Important others plough

Very few ModeratelyVery

many

Control: ploughing is

Very difficult

AverageVery easy

...on your land, in the long rain season 2014:

Methodology

FFS members

Non-FFS members

CropsMaize

/beansPotatoes

Sample4 FFS (n=32)

Non-FFS(n=62)

Results and discussion

FFS members

Non-FFS members

*******ns***

*** = p<0.001, * = p<0.05; ns = not significant.

Results and discussion

FFS members

Non-FFS members

*** = p<0.001, ** = p<0.01

**************

Results and discussion

• Weed control:

• Social norms: – Neutral social independence– FFS members experience some group

pressure

Attitude Perceived control

Spraying Herbicides

FFS ++ ++

Non-FFS +/- +

Shallow weeding

FFS ++ ++

Non-FFS +/- -

Conclusions

• Adoption of CAWillingness, capability and social acceptance explain intention of performing specific CA actions.

• Training and learning is keyIt influences both perceived control and attitudes.

• Respect farmers’ social independence• Link with actual adoption?

Understanding (non-)adoption of CA:

contributions from Social Psychology

Freddy van HulstHelena Posthumus

Thank you!

FFS members

Non-FFS members

*** = p<0.001, ** = p<0.01, * = p<0.05; ns = not significant.

Literature• Social Psychology, the Reasoned Action Approach

Fishbein, Martin, and Icek Ajzen. 2010. Predicting and Changing Behavior; the Reasoned Action Approach. New York: Taylor & Francis Group.

• Targeting technology, and innovation systems:

Tittonell, Pablo, E. Scopel, N. Andrieu, H. Posthumus, P. Mapfumo, M. Corbeels, G.E. van Halsema, et al. 2012. “Agroecology-based Aggradation-conservation Agriculture (ABACO): Targeting Innovations to Combat Soil Degradation and Food Insecurity in Semi-arid Africa.” Field Crops Research 132 (June): 168–174. doi:10.1016/j.fcr.2011.12.011.