Information acquisition, learning and the adoption of conservation agriculture in Malawi: A discrete-time duration analysis

Abstract

Understanding factors that influence the adoption of agricultural innovations is imperative to stakeholders promoting such technologies as well as farmers who are the potential users of the same. Using a discrete-time duration model, this study identifies factors that determine the timing of adoption of conservation agriculture (CA) in Malawi. We establish that social learning through a network of peers, and access to extension advisors facilitates quick adoption of conservation agriculture technologies. Further, our results show that farmers who became aware of the existence of conservation agriculture during years of drought-hazards were highly likely to adopt these practices. The results highlight the need for strengthening and targeting social networks as conduits for information about new technologies. (JEL C41, O33, Q12, Q24).