Do cooperatives participation and technology adoption improve farmers’welfare in China?A joint analysis accounting for selection bias

This study examines the impact of farmers’cooperatives participation and technology adoption on their economic welfare in China.A double selectivity model(DSM)is applied to correct for sample selection bias stemming from both observed and unobserved factors,and a propensity score matching(PSM)method is applied to calculate the agricultural income difference with counter factual analysis using survey data from 396 farmers in 15 provinces in China.The findings indicate that farmers who join farmer cooperatives and adopt agricultural technology can increase agricultural income by 2.77 and 2.35%,respectively,compared with those non-participants and non-adopters.Interestingly,the effect on agricultural income is found to be more significant for the low-income farmers than the high-income ones,with income increasing 5.45 and 4.51%when participating in farmer cooperatives and adopting agricultural technology,respectively.Our findings highlight the positive role of farmer cooperatives and agricultural technology in promoting farmers’economic welfare.Based on the findings,government policy implications are also discussed.

Factors Influencing Attitude towards Technology Adoption among Permanent Food Production Park (PFPP) Program Participants in West Malaysia

The study explores the factors influencing attitude towards agricultural technology adoption among Permanent Food Production Park(PFPP)program participants in West Malaysia and the factors that influence their attitudes.The PFPP program is one of the programs introduced by the government of Malaysia with the objectives of increasing food production,as well as supporting local agriculture entrepreneurs.The study employed a cross-sectional study design and has been conducted in four West Malaysian states with a sample of size of 275 respondents.The results indicated that the respondents had a positive attitude towards technology adoption and factors such as knowledge and skill,benefit,education level,years of experience in agriculture and gross income had influenced their attitude.

Analysis on the Impact of Cattle Fattening Technology on Farmer Households in Atabae Timor-Leste

Agriculture is one of the priority sectors in Timor-Leste. Introducing new agriculture technology is crucial to enhance agricultural production. Practicing cattle fattening can increase beef cattle body weight and generate income to the beef cattle farmers. As farmers face problems including agricultural production decline, lack of forages and information and weather unfavourable. The study’s purpose was to examine the impact of adoption of cattle fattening technology on farmer households in Atabae administrative post, Bobonaro municipality in Timor-Leste. There were 200 beef cattle farmers households where randomly selected in four villages in Atabae. It consisted of 65 farmers practicing cattle fattening and 135 farmers non-practicing cattle fattening. Face to face interviews used structured questionnaire. Statistical analysis such as t-test and descriptive analysis were used to examine impact adoption of cattle fattening technology by farmers and factor constraints of cattle production and the solutions of it. The results indicated the average value of cattle and profit were significant different from zero and it is associated with practicing of cattle fattening. The average of labour used on cattle activities, the average of cattle sold, and total cost spent on cattle were not significant different from zero. The percentage of farmers said that factors constraints cattle production were shortage of water and forage (53%) and spend time on culture ceremony and lack of capital (33%). The number of farmers said that they collected water from river, feed cattle with sago and forage (55.3%) and cultivated forage (23.4%). This finding contributes information to the farmers, traders, and Timorese government to continue implementing cattle fattening activities as it enhances farmers’ income and developing cattle production.

Does Internet use promote the adoption of agricultural technology?Evidence from 1449 farm households in 14 Chinese provinces

China is characterized as ’a large country with many smallholder farmers’ whose participation in modern agriculture is key to the country’s modern agriculture development. Promoting smallholder farmers’ adoption of modern agricultural production technology is one effective way to improve the capabilities of smallholder farmers. This paper aims to explore the impact of Internet use on the adoption of agricultural production technology by smallholder farmers based on a survey of 1 449 smallholders across 14 provinces in China. The results suggest that Internet use can significantly promote technology adoption, with the probability of adopting new crop varieties, water-saving irrigation technology and straw-returning technology increasing by 0.200, 0.157 and 0.155, respectively. Furthermore, the effect of Internet use is found to be heterogeneous with a greater effect on smallholder farmers having low education levels, limited training, and high incomes. To increase agricultural production technology adoption by smallholders, rural Internet infrastructure and Internet use promotion should be the focus for the Chinese government.

Methodology for Web Services Adoption Based on Technology Adoption Theory and Business Process Analyses

Web services use an emerging service-oriented architecture for distributed computing. Many organizations are either in the process of adopting web services technology or evaluating this option for incorporation into their enterprise information architectures. Implementation of this new technology requires careful assessment of the needs and capabilities of an organization to formulate adoption strategies. This paper presents a methodology for web services adoption based on technology adoption theory and business process analyses. The methodology suggests that strategies, business areas, and functions within an organization should be considered based on the existing organizational information technology status during the process of adopting web services to support the business needs and requirements.

The Effect of Green Technology Adoption Strategy on Duopoly Competition

Given consumers’trade-offs between conventional economic and environmental attributes of products,we provide a game-theoretic model to explore the role of GTA strategy in duopoly competition by incorporating two salient features:Two product types—The green product produced by a firm with GTA strategy and the ordinary product produced by a firm without GTA strategy,and two consumer segments,i.e.,the green consumers who are willing to pay for green products and the ordinary consumers who are willing to pay for ordinary products.Our analysis shows that GTA strategy may either increase or decrease the green firm’s quality provision.The subtle relationship between the green firm’s quality strategy and GTA strategy not only affects its own equilibrium performances but its rival’s.We also find that two consumer segments may be better off in the presence of a lower GTA intensity.Additionally,although the GTA strategy benefits the environment,the GTA investment is not the more the better.Finally,we find that GTA strategy would lead to higher social welfare only when the GTA efficiency is high enough.Our work not only provides an alternative economic explanation why some firms choose to implement GTA strategy and some do not in reality,but gives managerial insights for firms with different GTA strategies as well as policy insights for the social planner.

Uncertainty aversion and farmers' innovative seed adoption:Evidence from a field experiment in rural China

Based on the microdata of 705 wheat farmers in the Loess Plateau, this study empirically analyzes the impact of uncertainty on farmers' adoption of innovative seeds using a field experiment. The results indicate that farmers are generally ambiguity-averse and risk-averse. In addition, farmers with higher ambiguity aversion and risk aversion are less likely to adopt innovative wheat seeds, where their risk aversion plays a dominant role. Enhancing information access will alleviate the negative influence of ambiguity aversion on farmers' adoption of innovative seeds, and interlinked insurance and credit contracts will be beneficial to ease the adverse effect of risk aversion on the adoption of innovative wheat seeds. Meanwhile, heterogeneity analysis reveals that the inhibitory effects of ambiguity aversion and risk aversion on innovative seed adoption are more significant among farmers with lower education and household income.The government can establish both ex-ante and ex-post relevant guarantee mechanisms to help farmers preferably cope with various uncertainties in the production process, remitting farmers' ambiguity aversion and risk aversion to enhance new agricultural technology adoption rates.

Adoption of Improved Rice Varieties in the Global South:A Review

Improved rice varieties(IRVs)play a significant role in establishing food security and improving livelihood in the Global South since its introduction in the 1960s.However,the adoption of new IRVs has remained relatively low.This low adoption poses a challenge to rice-producing and consuming countries as they are increasingly threatened by production shortages,malnutrition,and poor rice quality.Many empirical studies have attempted to identify the determinants influencing the adoption of IRVs by distinguishing the characteristics between adopters and non-adopters.This review showed a consensus on the important determinants influencing the adoption of IRVs in the Global South.Findings synthesized from 99 studies suggested that variables(farm size,education,information access and farm location)examined extensively are not necessarily the most important determinants of adoption when undertaking a weighted analysis.Terrain,source of seed and technology-related attributes(perceived yield,maturity,ease of use,marketability and technical efficiency)are more important determinants of adoption,with determinants changing according to adoption type(probability or intensity of adoption),variety type and region.The recommendations for future adoption studies include:incorporating more technology-specific variables,increasing research for overlooked regions and variety types,shifting away from predominant static analysis by capturing the dynamics of the adoption process,and considering the potential biases in analyses.This review will facilitate the development of targeted interventions and policies that promote IRV adoption in the Global South.

Impact of Internal Factors on Information Technology Adoption: An Empirical Investigation of Chinese Firms

Organizations differ significantly in their inclination to deploy information technology （IT）. The factors that determine the organizational inclination to deploy IT need to be classified to help firms formulate an appropriate e-strategy. This paper discusses a framework that explains the influence of internal factors on IT adoption. The framework is based on quantitative data on IT adoption from 95 firms in China. The results highlight that the internal factors of leadership, organizational learning, and IT resources positively impact IT adoption. The study also shows that these factors are correlated.

A maturity model for blockchain adoption

Background:The rapid development of the blockchain technology and its various applications has rendered it important to understand the guidelines for adopting it.Methods:The comparative analysis method is used to analyze different dimensions of the maturity model,which is mainly based on the commonly used capability maturity model.Results:The blockchain maturity model and its adoption process have been discussed and presented.Conclusions:This study serves as a guide to institutions to make blockchain adoption decisions more systematically.

Impact of climate-smart agricultural technology on multidimensional poverty in rural Ethiopia

A large body of empirical literature showed that the adoption of agricultural technologies reduces poverty. However, dominants of those studies so far used one-dimensional income or expenditure-based measures of poverty which may not reflect other types of deprivations. Therefore, the major objective of this study is to examine the impact of adopting climate-smart agricultural technology, which refers to a joint application of row planting methods and the use of chemical fertilizers, on the multidimensional poverty status of rural households in Ethiopia. To estimate the impact of the stated technologies, this study employs propensity score matching and endogenous switching regression methods. To measure the multidimensional poverty index, the study also uses the Alkire and Foster counting approach. Using the Ethiopian Socioeconomic Survey(ESS), collected in 2015-Wave 3, the results of the study show that the adoption of these technologies reduces deprivation score and one of its component, the standard of living part. Regionally, a high reduction in deprivation is observed in Amhara and Oromiya regions. The results also show that the impact is significantly higher in severely deprived households. It is also observed that the reduction in multidimensional poverty due to the technology is through an increase in income/consumption via improvement in production gain. The impact channels more through the non-food expenditure pathway. Finally, this study also sheds light on the effects that technology adoption has on multidimensional poverty reduction.

Factors influencing the internet banking adoption decision in North Cyprus: an evidence from the partial least square approach of the structural equation modeling

Purpose:This paper aims to examine how the adoption decision of the internet banking in North Cyprus would be affected based on the following dimensions;the technology features,the personal characteristics,the social environment and the expected risk.Design/methodology/approach:A self-administered survey was conducted with 291 participants responded to it.The partial least square approach of the structural equation modeling(PLS-SEM)is employed to investigate the direct effects of the proposed factors on the adoption decision.Additionally,the mediation test is used to examine indirect effects.Findings:Results showed that even though the participants appreciated the benefits of the online banking as the perceived usefulness factor exerts the greatest direct effect,they would rather use clear and easy-to-use websites,adding to that their assessments of the usefulness of these services are significantly influenced by the surrounding people’s views and prior experience.This is demonstrated by the total effects of the perceived ease of use and the subjective norm factors,which are greater than the direct effect of the perceived usefulness factor since both of these factors have significant direct and indirect effects mediated by the perceived usefulness factor.The negative impact of the perceived risk factor is weak compared to the previous factors.While the personal innovativeness factor showed the weakest effect among the proposed factors.

Farmers' Willingness-to-Pay for Environment and Human Health and Adoption of IPM

Although chemical control of pests increases crop production, it brings a lot of damage to environment and human health. There exist a number of alternative methods that are not so harmful to environment and human health. However, whether and how much in extent these technologies adopted are plausible depends on the comparison of benefit-cost between chemical control and the alternative control methods (such as Integrated Pest Management, IPM) and farmers' willingness-to-pay (WTP) for envirorment and human health. Using contingent valuation method (CVM), the author investigates farmers' WTP for environment and human health, recognizes the factors influencing WTP, and accordingly points out the importance of pest control technology extension and government regulation of pesticides.

Adoption of small-scale irrigation technologies and its impact on land productivity:Evidence from Rwanda

In an attempt to identify solutions to the effects of erratic rainfall patterns and droughts that limit agricultural production growth,the Rwandan government has recently increased investments in irrigation development.In this study,we analyze the adoption of small-scale irrigation technologies(SSITs)and its impact on land productivity using cross-sectional data from a sample of 360 farmers in Rwanda.The study uses the propensity score matching technique to address potential self-selection bias.Our results reveal that adoption decisions are significantly influenced by factors such as education,farm size,group membership,gender,extension services,access to credit,access to weather forecast information,risk perceptions,access to a reliable source of water for irrigation,awareness of rainwater harvesting techniques,and awareness of subsidy programs.In addition,the results show that the adoption of SSITs has a significantly positive impact on land productivity.The study concludes with policy implications that highlight the need to promote the adoption of SSITs among farmers as a strategy to improve agricultural productivity and food security in Rwanda.

Technological Innovation Adoption Model for Construction Products

The construction sector is in need of further self-development due to recent innovations in technology.This is because the environmental problems which have been handled seriously all over the world in recent years,and studies related to the way of creating requirements and measures for healthy construction environments have been emphasized.For adoption of new technological construction products in that sector;a system which will encompass designers,contractors and users is required.For selection and widespread use of new technological products,the decision-making is not only sufficient but also cultural and socio-economic factors and conditions are gaining in importance.For the implementation and control of the new construction product assigned,a process of testing is required.The process of testing should be structured by allowing the use of new technological products in a system of continuous self-improvement by preventing the usage without change for a substantial amount of time.All of these processes have been examined within the scope of the doctoral thesis in model,which was developed for the adoption of technological innovation.In this study,the aim is to contribute to the creation of an appropriate adoption roadmap for constant self-renewal and self-improvement of construction environments,which are sensitive to the environment.

SMALLHOLDER ADOPTION OF GREEN PRODUCTION TECHNOLOGIES ON THE NORTH CHINA PLAIN: EVIDENCE FROM SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY BACKYARDS

Understanding the impact of agricultural socialized services on smallholder adoption of green production technologies and their mechanisms of action is of great importance for sustainability of farming systems.Currently,there were numerous related studies,but it is still unclear how to gradually achieve the diffusion of technological innovations on pilot sites to a regional level.To answer this question,this paper presents the pathways and mechanisms of green production technologies diffusion by comparing international typical service organizations or modes such as agricultural technology extension service centers(ATESC),farmer field schools(FFS),participatory technology innovation(PTI)and integrated colearning approach(ICLA),while taking Wangzhuang Science and Technology Backyard(WZ STB)in Quzhou,Hebei Province,China as an example.This research had three key outcomes.(1)The combination of collaborative,tree-shaped and jump-start diffusion modes promotes the diffusion of participatory technology innovation to different scales,such as farmers,villages and counties.(2)The three diffusion modes combine and expand the advantages of existing international modes.The collaborative diffusion mode not only provides full scope for the advantages of PTI,but also provides smallholders with service supply for the whole production period.The tree-shaped diffusion mode combines the advantages of FFS from point technology innovation to village diffusion,while achieving a full range of technical service support.The jump-start diffusion mode cannot only achieve large-scale technology diffusion like ATESC and ICLA,but also empower smallholders through adaptive technology innovation.(3)Trust is the key to promoting smallholder reliance on the science and technology provided by STB and to promote their adoption of green production technologies.Accordingly,the following policy recommendations were proposed:strengthen the combination of top-down and bottom-up technology innovation and diffusion models,establish an effective service communication platform and evaluation mechanism,and strengthen the linkage mechanism between socialized services providers and smallholders,which will provide a realistic basis for the national policy of targeted socialized services provision and promote smallholder adoption of green production technologies.

COMPETITIVE INVESTMENT STRATEGIES IN ADOPTION OF NEW TECHNOLOGY WITH A FURTHER NEW TECHNOLOGY ANTICIPATED

In dynamic uncertain environments, the investment timing of the firm about adopting the existing new technology is influenced by the rival's actions and technological progress. This paper employs option games approach to present a simplified duopoly continuous time model of technology adoption. In the model, the irreversible investment in adoption of the existing new technology is in strategic competitive circumstances and facing the threat of a further new technology after the competition setting is established. The purpose of the paper is to examine the effect of technological displacement on firms' strategic investment. The results show that rapid displacement of the technology encourages the leader's investment and discourages the follower's investment. Comparing with the optimal timing without the expectation of a further new technology, the firm hastens to invest when no firm has invested; however, once one firm has invested first, the firm will delay its investment. Using mixed strategy analysis, competitive investment strategies with sequential exercise and simultaneous exercise are derived.

Farmers' seed choice behaviors under asymmetrical information: Evidence from maize farming in China

the financial support of the National Social Science Foundation of China （14ZDA038）;the National Natural Science Foundation of China （71222302;71373255;71573133）;the Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences （2012RC102）

Profitability and Farmer Acceptability of Selected Climate Smart Technologies and Practices for Maize-Beans Production in Drought-Prone Areas, Uganda

Climate change is increasingly affecting farm-level decisions on when to plant and which climate smart agriculture (CSA) options to use. This study was conducted to determine the profitability and farmer acceptability of different CSA options for maize-bean production in drought-prone areas of Uganda. It was conducted on-farm in Rakai and Nakasongola districts during 2020 and 2021. Variables included: planting date (early vs late);varieties (common beans: NABE 4 and NAROBEAN 2, and maize: Longe 5 and Bazooka);intercropping versus pure stand;and fertiliser use (manure, Diammonium phosphate (DAP) or combination). The experimental design was split-split plot, replicated six times. Over two years, early planting caused 16% and up to 46% higher yields of maize and beans, respectively, than late planting, resulting in 14% - 28% and 18% - 43% higher Benefit/Cost (B/C) ratio for maize and beans, respectively. Intercropping reduced maize and beans yield by 16% - 25% and 52% - 57%, respectively. The B/C was highest for sole maize;intercropping was more profitable than sole beans. Fertilizer (DAP) was most profitable when Bazooka was early-planted as sole crop followed by intercrop. For late planted-crop, manure was better. These practices were more beneficial when applied simultaneously for both crops excluding bean variety. Farmers’ lessons stressed the importance of early planting and fertilizer use;however, majority indicated they were to adopt more than two of the practices tested.