Cotton farmers’ intention to adopt biochar as climate change adaptation and sustainable land management strategy in Benin

Abstract

Innovative agricultural practices represent the future of the world in the sustainable improvement of agricultural productivity. Sustainable farming practices have been recognized and accepted by agricultural development stakeholders, to provide a wide range of social, economic, financial, and environmental benefits. Despite this recognition, the application of these practices in the literature has focused on socio-economic and technical aspects while the psychosocial elements of the application have received limited attention. To contribute to a broad understanding of the concept, this study aims at analyzing the psychosociological motivations of cotton farmers to use biochar as a sustainable land management strategy. Adopting a survey research design, a sample of 528 farmers in Benin (West Africa) was interviewed on the pillars of the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) (Attitude, Subjective norms, Behavioral Control) and three other aspects (Climate change perception, Past behavior and Productivity risk perception) for an extension of TPB. The data collected were analyzed using the structural equation model of the SmartPLS 4 program. The results of this study confirmed all TPB relationships except for the construction of the “Attitude" pillar where Perceived ease of use had no significant influence. Apart from the classical TPB factors, perception of climate change and past behavior in adopting new agricultural practices positively affect the application of biochar. However, possible yield decreases at the beginning of biochar use demotivate farmers to take initiatives in this direction. The study notes that the role of a good perception and knowledge of the effects of climate change and the benefits of biochar action are elements to be considered in promoting sustainable cotton farming and agricultural practices.