Determinants and impact of the adoption of improved management practices: Case of freshwater prawn farming in Bangladesh

Abstract

This study aims to identify the determinants of the adoption of improved management practices and their impacts on freshwater prawn farming in Bangladesh. To achieve the study objectives, the researchers employed Poisson regression, regression adjustment (RA), and inverse probability weighted regression adjustment (IPWRA) techniques. A total of 300 prawn farmers were surveyed in 2018, and the results indicated that prawn farmers were reluctant to adopt all of the improved practices that were recommended. Their decision regarding whether to adopt new practices was significantly influenced by the number of days in training, extension contact, credit access, and perception of profit. The impact on productivity with the adoption of the three improved practices investigated in this study was 68 % and 47 %, based on RA and IPWRA, respectively. The impact on profitability was 226 % and 124 % on the basis of RA and IPWRA, respectively. Improved access to financial institutions for farmers and modifications to current extension approaches can raise levels of adoption. Incentives for institutions involved in transferring the improved management practices of prawn at the farm level would also be of benefit.