FACTORS AFFECTING INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGIES ADOPTION BY LIVESTOCK HOLDERS IN ARID AREA OF TUNISIA

Meriem Oueslati-Zlaoui,Salah Ben-Youssef,Boubaker Dhehibi,Mohamed Zied Dhraief,Sonia Bedhiaf,Oussama Jebali

doi:10.30682/nm1904a

Meriem Oueslati-Zlaoui, Salah Ben-Youssef + Show 4 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.30682/nm1904a

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Abstract

Despite the efforts to enhance adoption of innovative technologies (IT) by the Tunisian Government through national and/or international development projects, the potential rate of adoption of these technologies has remained low among farmers. This study aims at shedding some light on the potential factors that influence IT adoption in the Tunisian arid areas. Technological, economic, institutional factors and human specific factors (social) are selected to be the determinants of agricultural technology adoption. A quantitative approach employing a cross-sectional design was used to gather data. Stratified random sampling was employed and a total of 200 small-scale farmers (100 adopters and 100 non-adopters) were sampled. Data analysis and assessment was done through descriptive and statistical inferential analysis, and econometric modeling using the binary logistic regression model. Empirical findings show that economic and socio-demographic factors such as farmer education, size of cattle flocks and off-farm income were statistically significant and had positive influence on technology adoption while age and farmer experience had significant and negative effects on IT adoption. The findings confirm the important role of institutional factors (being a member of an association, benefiting from extension services and source of technology knowledge) in the adoption decision of IT, particularly when such variables were found to be significant and positives. In contrast, labor and credit services do not significantly influence adoption of IT. Based on these results, Government should focus on educating young farmers with large cattle flock size and off-farm income to enhance the adoption of IT for livestock holders. It should also intensify training programs for farmers and for extension agents with the collaboration of the project managers and the involvement of the profession and the private sector. Finally, the open innovation strategy including all stakeholders during idea generation could be considered as a better way to decrease technology development costs and improve IT adoption.

Highlights

IntroductionIn Tunisia, livestock represents 4% of the country’s GDP and contributes by 41% of the total agriculture production (INS, 2016)
In Tunisia, livestock represents 4% of the country’s GDP and contributes by 41% of the total agriculture production (INS, 2016). It is mainly held by resource limited smallholders with nearly 80% of rural populations and the majority of farmers rely on traditional methods of production and this has lowered the level of productivity
Numerous technologies attributes were selected to understand their importance on the adoption decision of innovative technologies (IT) (Table 3)

Summary

Introduction

In Tunisia, livestock represents 4% of the country’s GDP and contributes by 41% of the total agriculture production (INS, 2016) It is mainly held by resource limited smallholders with nearly 80% of rural populations and the majority of farmers rely on traditional methods of production and this has lowered the level of productivity. The meat production has increased per year, on average, for about annually by 1.04% and 4.48% for cattle and poultry, respectively While this production has been and decreased by 0.34% and 0.14% for sheep and goat, respectively. The increase on feed resources costs, the feed shortages during in the dry seasons, the high frequency of climatic shocks, the illegal migration of herds to the neighboring countries (Libya and Algeria), the inappropriate herd management and especially the low adoption of innovative technologies are the major factors explaining the low performance of sheep and goat sector. Mohamed et al (2009) confirm these findings concerning the dairy sheep breed in Tunisia called “Sicilo-Sarde” which shows low performances related to the low rate adoption rate of technical and organizational innovations

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