Determinants of Agricultural Technology Adoption among Commercial Vegetable Growers in Bagamati Province, Nepal
Hari Krishna Panta
Institute of Agriculture and Animal Science, Nepal.
Srijana Poudel *
Institute of Agriculture and Animal Science, Nepal.
Sulochana Thapa
Institute of Agriculture and Animal Science, Nepal.
Samyam Dahal
Institute of Agriculture and Animal Science, Nepal.
Chuda Prasad Dhakal
Institute of Agriculture and Animal Science, Nepal.
Kamal Regmi
Institute of Agriculture and Animal Science, Nepal.
Manoj Basnet
Institute of Agriculture and Animal Science, Nepal.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Improved agricultural technologies are critical for achieving development goals such as poverty reduction and maintaining food security for impoverished farming households in low-income countries like Nepal. In recent years, agricultural technologies are promoted among commercial vegetable growers to improve their livelihood. However, there is limited understanding of the determinants of the technology adoption and insights that can provide guidelines for technology development and accelerate their adoptions. This study aimed to assess the extent and factors affecting technology adoption in Bagamati Province, Nepal. This study adopted a multi-stage sampling method and surveyed 180 randomly selected households. This study used ordinal logistic regression to identify factors affecting the adoption of agricultural technology in the study area. Household head by female (OR=0.161), years of education (OR=1.205), farm size (OR=4.835), distance to the nearest market (OR=0.247), distance to the nearest road (OR=0.019), and extension workers visit (OR=3.227) were the major determinants of the technology adoption in this study. Therefore, it is suggested among others that policymakers should emphasize higher education, access to roads and markets, extension programmes, and the development of agricultural technology suitable for small farmers adoption.
Keywords: Adoption, ordinal logistic, technology, vegetable growers