How social capital affects willingness of farmers to accept low-carbon agricultural technology (LAT)? A case study of Jiangsu, China

Chunhui Liu,Huawei Zheng

doi:10.1108/ijccsm-09-2020-0100

Chunhui Liu, Huawei Zheng

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1108/ijccsm-09-2020-0100

Copy DOI

Abstract

PurposeLow-carbon agricultural technology (LAT) extension is a key strategy for the agricultural sector to address climate change. Social capital, which consists of social networks, trust and norms, can play an active LAT extension role. This paper aims to analyze the mechanism of the role of social capital in the process of LAT extension.Design/methodology/approachQuestionnaire data from six counties in Jiangsu, China, were used to measure social capital and analyze its effect on LAT extension using logistic regression. Data from 27 interviews were used to analyze the LAT extension experiences and problems.FindingsLAT is mainly deployed by the government to farmers and distributed among them. In this process, the village officials who form parts of the government’s composition and the villagers play a dual role that facilitates a close link between them and the farmers and ensures LAT integration. However, social norms did not play a significant role in the process.Practical implicationsFarmers’ acceptance of LAT is based solely on the trade-off between local networks’ benefits and trust in local villagers and village officials. LAT-related laws and technical measures, thus are essential to strengthen LAT practices’ authority and incorporate LAT-based agricultural production as the norm of production behavior.Originality/valueThis paper provides an insight into the process and essence of farmers’ acceptance of LAT, which provides theoretical lessons for the LAT extension in China and indeed other developing countries.

Highlights

The emissions of greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) from agriculture are second only to the industrial sector, with its effects on climate change confirmed by numerous studies (Bai et al, 2019; Zhen et al, 2017)
The analysis showed that the KMO value reached 0.725 and the test statistic of Bartlett’s sphericity test reached 1,622.886, which passed the significance test at a level less than 0.01, reflecting that the data was suitable for factor analysis
Conclusions and policy implication This paper explores the factors that influence the acceptance of low-carbon agricultural technology (LAT) by farmers from the perspective of social capital

Summary

Introduction

The emissions of greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) from agriculture are second only to the industrial sector, with its effects on climate change confirmed by numerous studies (Bai et al, 2019; Zhen et al, 2017). Previous studies have indicated that the emissions of methane and nitrous oxide are expected to rise by up to 30%–60% by 2030, with most of the increment occurring in the developing countries (Alexandratos and Bruinsma, 2012; Norse, 2012). (2) To reduces GHG emissions in agricultural production (Norse, 2012); and (3) To increase the carbon sink, e.g. establishing an integrated ecosystem of agriculture, forestry and animal husbandry (Sa et al, 2017). Based on these three principles, many countries with large agricultural sectors such as Brazil and Indonesia. Research estimate that the continuation practices of LAT in these countries can significantly reduce GHG from the agricultural sector and increase carbon sinks over the decades (Carauta et al, 2018; Sa et al, 2017)

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusion