The role of social-psychological factors in the adoption of push-pull technology by small-scale farmers in East Africa: Application of the theory of planned behavior
Push-pull technology (PPT) continues to gain relevance among smallholder farmers across the East African region in managing the constraints affecting cereal crop yields including stemborers, fall armyworm, striga weed, and low soil fertility. While previous research has emphasized the significance o...
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Elsevier
2025-01-01
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405844024174804 |
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| author | Denis Waiswa Beatrice Wambui Muriithi Alice W. Murage Dave Mwangi Ireri Fredah Maina Frank Chidawanyika Fahri Yavuz |
| author_facet | Denis Waiswa Beatrice Wambui Muriithi Alice W. Murage Dave Mwangi Ireri Fredah Maina Frank Chidawanyika Fahri Yavuz |
| author_sort | Denis Waiswa |
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| description | Push-pull technology (PPT) continues to gain relevance among smallholder farmers across the East African region in managing the constraints affecting cereal crop yields including stemborers, fall armyworm, striga weed, and low soil fertility. While previous research has emphasized the significance of socioeconomic factors in explaining farmers' decisions to adopt PPT, the social-psychological factors that influence farmers' adoption intentions have not been extensively studied. Therefore, this study investigated the influence of social-psychological factors on the intention to adopt or increase the land area under PPT based on the theory of planned behavior (TPB). Moreover, this study extends the applicability of the TPB by incorporating an additional construct that addresses practical limitations within adoption decision-making, and providing evidence of how TPB constructs function differently across distinct agricultural contexts. Nine hundred and seventy-one (971) cereal growers comprising PPT users and non-users were interviewed in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, and Rwanda using a structured questionnaire. Utilizing the Partial Least Square-Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM) and Artificial Neural Network (ANN), this study revealed a significant positive influence of TPB conceptual elements attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control on farmers’ intentions to adopt or expand the land area under PPT. Additionally, the study found that the added construct “perceived limitations” negatively impacts these intentions. The results indicated significant variations in the impact of TPB constructs on the intentions to adopt and expand land under PPT across the studied countries. These insights underscore the need for tailored, context-sensitive interventions that integrate behavioral, social, and practical considerations. Additionally, understanding the country-specific determinants allows for more targeted policy measures, extension services, and support programs that can enhance the adoption and effectiveness of PPT, ultimately improving agricultural outcomes and livelihoods of farmers in this region. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-5ae99e33c6a34449a1db5c7dc3e40bac |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2405-8440 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
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| series | Heliyon |
| spelling | doaj-art-5ae99e33c6a34449a1db5c7dc3e40bac2025-01-17T04:51:18ZengElsevierHeliyon2405-84402025-01-01111e41449The role of social-psychological factors in the adoption of push-pull technology by small-scale farmers in East Africa: Application of the theory of planned behaviorDenis Waiswa0Beatrice Wambui Muriithi1Alice W. Murage2Dave Mwangi Ireri3Fredah Maina4Frank Chidawanyika5Fahri Yavuz6International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (ICIPE), P.O. Box 30772-00100, Nairobi, Kenya; Department of Agricultural Economics, Faculty of Agriculture, Atatürk University, Yakutiye, Erzurum, 25240, Türkiye; Corresponding author. International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (ICIPE), P.O. Box 30772-00100, Nairobi, Kenya.International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (ICIPE), P.O. Box 30772-00100, Nairobi, KenyaKenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization (KALRO), P.O. Box, 57811, 00200, Nairobi, KenyaKenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization (KALRO), P.O. Box, 57811, 00200, Nairobi, Kenya; Chuka University, P.O. Box 109, 60400, Chuka, KenyaKenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization (KALRO), P.O. Box, 57811, 00200, Nairobi, KenyaInternational Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (ICIPE), P.O. Box 30772-00100, Nairobi, Kenya; Department of Zoology and Entomology, University of the Free State, P.O. Box 339, Bloemfontein, 9300, South AfricaDepartment of Agricultural Economics, Faculty of Agriculture, Atatürk University, Yakutiye, Erzurum, 25240, TürkiyePush-pull technology (PPT) continues to gain relevance among smallholder farmers across the East African region in managing the constraints affecting cereal crop yields including stemborers, fall armyworm, striga weed, and low soil fertility. While previous research has emphasized the significance of socioeconomic factors in explaining farmers' decisions to adopt PPT, the social-psychological factors that influence farmers' adoption intentions have not been extensively studied. Therefore, this study investigated the influence of social-psychological factors on the intention to adopt or increase the land area under PPT based on the theory of planned behavior (TPB). Moreover, this study extends the applicability of the TPB by incorporating an additional construct that addresses practical limitations within adoption decision-making, and providing evidence of how TPB constructs function differently across distinct agricultural contexts. Nine hundred and seventy-one (971) cereal growers comprising PPT users and non-users were interviewed in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, and Rwanda using a structured questionnaire. Utilizing the Partial Least Square-Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM) and Artificial Neural Network (ANN), this study revealed a significant positive influence of TPB conceptual elements attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control on farmers’ intentions to adopt or expand the land area under PPT. Additionally, the study found that the added construct “perceived limitations” negatively impacts these intentions. The results indicated significant variations in the impact of TPB constructs on the intentions to adopt and expand land under PPT across the studied countries. These insights underscore the need for tailored, context-sensitive interventions that integrate behavioral, social, and practical considerations. Additionally, understanding the country-specific determinants allows for more targeted policy measures, extension services, and support programs that can enhance the adoption and effectiveness of PPT, ultimately improving agricultural outcomes and livelihoods of farmers in this region.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405844024174804Adoption intentionAgricultural innovationsAgroecologyArtificial neural networkInnovation readinessPLS-SEM |
| spellingShingle | Denis Waiswa Beatrice Wambui Muriithi Alice W. Murage Dave Mwangi Ireri Fredah Maina Frank Chidawanyika Fahri Yavuz The role of social-psychological factors in the adoption of push-pull technology by small-scale farmers in East Africa: Application of the theory of planned behavior Heliyon Adoption intention Agricultural innovations Agroecology Artificial neural network Innovation readiness PLS-SEM |
| title | The role of social-psychological factors in the adoption of push-pull technology by small-scale farmers in East Africa: Application of the theory of planned behavior |
| title_full | The role of social-psychological factors in the adoption of push-pull technology by small-scale farmers in East Africa: Application of the theory of planned behavior |
| title_fullStr | The role of social-psychological factors in the adoption of push-pull technology by small-scale farmers in East Africa: Application of the theory of planned behavior |
| title_full_unstemmed | The role of social-psychological factors in the adoption of push-pull technology by small-scale farmers in East Africa: Application of the theory of planned behavior |
| title_short | The role of social-psychological factors in the adoption of push-pull technology by small-scale farmers in East Africa: Application of the theory of planned behavior |
| title_sort | role of social psychological factors in the adoption of push pull technology by small scale farmers in east africa application of the theory of planned behavior |
| topic | Adoption intention Agricultural innovations Agroecology Artificial neural network Innovation readiness PLS-SEM |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405844024174804 |
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