Role of farmers' attitudes in adoption of irrigation in Saskatchewan

Abstract

Adoption of a new technology, such as irrigation, is a complex phenomenon. Several factors of economic and social nature contribute to the farm-level decisions affecting adoption. In this study, the role played by attitudes of potential adopters towards irrigation and its subsequent adoption on their farm unit was estimated. Two models were estimated, one incorporating only adopters' socio-economic characteristics, and the other, only their attitudes towards irrigation. Results suggest that adopters' attitude, particularly with respect to economic and environmental effects of irrigation, were significant determinants of their decision to proceed with adoption of irrigation, and have a role to play in adoption of irrigation over and above that explained by socio-economic characteristics. In particular, these results suggest that negative perceptions with respect to economics of irrigation and those related to its detrimental impacts on environmental quality, particularly through soil salinity, may be significant deterrents for adoption of irrigation. The study suggests that planning of large scale water development projects, particularly those involving irrigation, must be cognizant of attitudes of potential adopters. Furthermore, during the planning stages, more attention should be paid to the development of proper educational programs, as well as extension packages, to ensure that potential adopters formulate correct attitudes towards the new technology.