Improving the assessment of good agricultural practice adoption in cashew production: A contributory approach

Abstract

This study aimed to propose a new approach for calculating the adoption rate of cultural practices in cashew production, challenging the conventional method that assigns equal weight to all practices. Through an in-depth analysis using multiple linear regression and field data, it was revealed that different practices have varying impacts on cashew yields, which the traditional approach neglects. To address this bias, a weighted approach was introduced, considering the relative importance of each practice. By recalculating the adoption rate using this new method, a more precise and balanced view of practice contributions was obtained. A comparison with the existing approach showed significant differences, as the current method underestimated certain practices' importance, distorting the overall assessment. In contrast, the weighted approach provided a more realistic estimation. These findings underscore the necessity of revising the approach to assess cultural practice adoption in cashew production accurately. Incorporating relative weights allows for a more informed evaluation, enabling farmers, policymakers, and researchers to adopt more efficient practices and optimize yields. This study serves as a valuable contribution, emphasizing the significance of considering relative weights in evaluating cultural practices, providing a strong foundation to guide decision-making in cashew production.