Risk Cognition, Social Learning, and Farmers’ Adoption of Conservation Agriculture Technology

Abstract

Soil degradation and declining soil fertility are prominent issues for sustainable agricultural development in China. Therefore, it is of great significance to promote the adoption rate of conservation agriculture technology. Risk cognition and technology adoption are closely related, but this perspective is rarely focused on, and it is essential to discuss the influence of social learning on the impact. The Loess Plateau is a representative area for promoting and implementing conservation agriculture techniques. By collecting face-to-face survey data from 1268 farmers in Shaanxi, Shanxi, and Ningxia provinces in China, this study used the binary probit model to examine the impact of risk cognition on the adoption of conservation agriculture technology and the influence of social learning on the impact. The results showed that risk cognition has a significant positive impact on the adoption of conservation agriculture technology; social learning significantly enhances the effect of risk cognition on farmers’ adoption of conservation agriculture technology. Both offline practical learning through “learning by doing” and online learning with ICT play an important moderating role in the impact; a high level of social learning enhances risk cognition to a greater extent and promotes enthusiasm for adopting conservation agriculture technology. Therefore, the value of farmers’ risk cognition should be considered in promoting and implementing conservation agriculture technology. Moreover, expanding offline and online social learning channels is crucial to improve farmers’ risk cognition and promote the adoption of conservation agriculture technology.