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The main concern in agricultural research is to ensure that research products are adopted by farmers. However,
the rate of adoption is low. Most research on adoption rates are post-ante. The values of such research can be
added if factors for adoption are ex-ante identified and measures taken to increase adoption. This study was
conducted in Morogoro, Tanzania to ex-ante identify socio-economic characteristics that influence adoption of
Integrated Lowland Rice Legume Technologies (ILRLT). The ILRLT included integration of rice (SARO
variety), legumes (cow pea) water management (irrigation, rainfed and majaruba bunds), tillage (conventional
and minimum) and fertilizers (UREA, TSP and MOP). Data were collected through questionnaire interviews to
200 representative farmers and key informants. Descriptive statistics, Multi-Criteria Analysis and a two
functions adoption model were used to assess the suitability of ILRLT and analyze the likelihood of farmers to
adopt. Results indicated that important criteria for rice variety preference and hence adoption are high prices
(7.8%), good taste (6.1%), early maturity (4.8%), disease (3.2%) and drought tolerance (17.4%). ILRLT scored
more (26.40%) than farmer’s (17.97%) in fulfilling criteria for rice legume variety preferences. ILRLT have a
chance of being adopted to the maximum rate of 89.7%. Adoption is likely to be more with farmers who depend
on irrigation than those who depend on rainfed rice farming. |
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