Skip to main content

Research Repository

Advanced Search

What is technology adoption? Exploring the agricultural research value chain for smallholder farmers in Lao PDR

Alexander, Kim S.; Greenhalgh, Garry; Moglia, Magnus; Thephavanh, Manithaythip; Sinavong, Phonevilay; Larson, Silva; Jovanovic, Tom; Case, Peter

Authors

Kim S. Alexander

Garry Greenhalgh

Magnus Moglia

Manithaythip Thephavanh

Phonevilay Sinavong

Silva Larson

Tom Jovanovic



Abstract

© 2019, Springer Nature B.V. A common and driving assumption in agricultural research is that the introduction of research trials, new practices and innovative technologies will result in technology adoption, and will subsequently generate benefits for farmers and other stakeholders. In Lao PDR, the potential benefits of introduced technologies have not been fully realised by beneficiaries. We report on an analysis of a survey of 735 smallholder farmers in Southern Lao PDR who were questioned about factors that influenced their decisions to adopt new technologies. In this study, we have constructed measures or states of adoption which identify key elements of an adoption decision-making nexus. Analysis was conducted to statistically group explanatory factors of adoption. The key explanatory factors represented attributes of the farmer, the factors considered when undertaking production decisions and elements of the agricultural value chain that present as opportunities or constraints. We describe the combination of farmer’s personal attributes, perceptions of the value chain, and the introduction of new technologies by external actors as an “agricultural research value chain”, where agricultural research activities intervene to derive greater benefits for local farmers. A generalised linear model, via Poisson (multiple) regression analysis on the identified explanatory factors, was applied to explore how they influence adoption measures and we found several significant relationships.

Citation

Alexander, K. S., Greenhalgh, G., Moglia, M., Thephavanh, M., Sinavong, P., Larson, S., …Case, P. (2019). What is technology adoption? Exploring the agricultural research value chain for smallholder farmers in Lao PDR. Agriculture and Human Values, https://doi.org/10.1007/s10460-019-09957-8

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date Jun 4, 2019
Online Publication Date Jun 15, 2019
Publication Date Jan 1, 2019
Deposit Date Jun 4, 2019
Publicly Available Date Jan 2, 2020
Journal Agriculture and Human Values
Print ISSN 0889-048X
Electronic ISSN 1572-8366
Publisher Springer (part of Springer Nature)
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
DOI https://doi.org/10.1007/s10460-019-09957-8
Keywords measures of adoption, agricultural research value chain, adoption, Lao PDR, technologies
Public URL https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/846157

Files






You might also like



Downloadable Citations