Determinants of adoption of Indigenous Knowledge (IK) based technology in handicrafts among rural women of Amathole, South Africa: A double hurdle model approach

Abstract

Indigenous Knowledge (IK) based technologies and skills have been central to rural livelihoods for ages. Women apply these techniques in a wide range of livelihood activities both on-farm and off-farm. Despite, growing scholarly work on adoption of technologies in rural areas, howbeit studies which focused on adoption of retro technologies and off-farm livelihood activities are very few. Given how central both IK based technologies and handicrafts are in the rural development nexus, studying determinants of adoption of such technologies among rural women assumes importance. This study used a cross-sectional survey of 170 rural women (88 adopters and 82 non-adopters) in Amathole District Municipality. Adoption of IK based technology was specified as a two-step decision process with awareness as a precondition for adoption. Thus, the study employed the Heckman two-stage model to analyze factors affecting awareness and adoption of IK based technologies among rural women. Age, employment status, social networks, access to material, access to the tourism market and workshop attendance influenced awareness. Employment status, number of employed household members, workshops attendance and crafter experience influenced adoption. The study urges the development of a comprehensive policy framework to promote awareness and adoption of IK based technologies in handicrafts as a rural poverty alleviation and employment creation strategy.