Omonrice 10: 94-100 (2002)

Factors affecting farmers adoption of technologies in farming

system: A case study in OMon district, Can Tho province,
Mekong Delta.
Truong Thi Ngoc Chi1 and Ryuichi Yamada2

ABSTRACT
Farmers changes of technology use are influenced by technical training,
meeting, oral transmission, trust on technician and belief level on technology. Men
usually use technologies for rice, fruit and fish production, and women use
technology for pig, chicken production. Factors that trigger adoption of new
technologies comprise of progressive, young and educated male farmers. Factors
limited adoption of technology included conservative old men, and weak belief on
ensure high yield of new technology. Though farmers have positive perception of
technology, they faced problems in technology application due to lack of capital,
lack the direction from the government and extension, lack compensation policy in
ensure of yield.

INTRODUCTION or stimuli from our environment and transform

it into psychological awareness. Decision
A farming system is the result of a
making model of Norton and Mumford (1983,
complex interaction of a number of
cited by Heong, et al. 1994) shows that, on
interdependent components soil, water,
the basis of perception of the problem, farmer
crops, livestock, labor and other resource-
assesses expected outcomes. The farmers
within an environmental setting.
choice of action (decision) will depend on his
The total environment can be divided evaluation of this and other outcomes, in term
into two elements: technology and human. of his own personal perspectives. Allport,
Technology determines the type and physical 1965 cited that perception involves to
potential of livestock enterprises, and includes understanding, and awareness of a meaning
the physical and biological factors that can be or recognition of the objects. In this research,
modified through technology development. the objects are technologies. Koppel (1978),
The human element is characterized by the predominant role of technology is
exogenous (community structures, external facilitating major improvement in agriculture
institution, etc.) and endogenous factors, productivity. Therefore, it is important to know
which can be controlled by the farm how farmers perceived of technologies for
household. At the center of this interaction is better understanding of their choice in
household member. The household ultimately decision of adoption or not. Technology is one
decides on the farming systems on whether or of resources for agricultural production.
not to adopt technologies and how to assign According to Ingold (2002), definitions of
resources to support it (Norman, 1980, cited technology differ widely, depending on
by Paris). The decision of use of technologies whether the intent is to embrace the totality of
is dependent on how farmers perceive of human works, in all societies and during all
technology. According to Price (1996), epochs. Rogers (1983) reported that
perception acts as filter through which new technology is a design for instrumental action
observations are interpreted. According to that reduced the uncertainty in the cause and
Van de Ban and Hawkin (1988), perception is effect relationships involved in achieving a
the process by which we received information desired outcome. Technology comprises of

1
Cuu Long Delta Rice Research Institute, Omon, Cantho, Vietnam
2
Japan International Research Center for Agricultural Sciences, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8686 Japan
Factors affecting farmers adoption of technologies in farming system 95

two components, hardware and soft ware. ideas are invented, they are diffused and
The hardware consists of physical tool that adopted or rejected. We use the concept of
embodies technology. The software consists diffusion in our study in term of understanding
of information base for the tool. In Mumfords how many farmers know and use of
classification (1946), technologyasobjects technology. Valera et al. (1987) reported that
encompasses the entire range of fabricated the community is composed of different
items intended for some use or other, groups of people, in general, diffusion of
including tools, utensils, utilities, apparatus innovation will take place only within groups of
and machines. Mitcham (1978), technology people who are homogenous in terms of
asprocess, includes most importantly the problems, aspirations and needs. According
activities we commonly denote as making and to Cruz (1987), time is an important factors in
using. The key element here is that of skill the process of diffusion. The systems social
defined as proficiency in the use of artefact. structure can have an important influence on
Ingold (2002) distinguished technique from the spread of new ideas. It can impede or
technology. Technique refers to skills, facilitate the rate of diffusion and adoption of
regarded as capability of particular human new ideas. The norms, social statuses,
subjects, and technology means a corpus of hierarchy, and so on of a social system
generalized, objective knowledge, insofar as it influence the behavior of individual.
is capable of practical application.
There are number of factors that
Technology can be reached farmers influence the extent of adoption of technology
through technology transfer. Technology such as characteristics or attributes of
transfer refers to the general process of technology; the adopters or clientele, which is
moving information and skills from information the object of change; the change agent
or knowledge generators such as research (extension worker, professional, etc.); and the
laboratories and universities to clients such as socio-economic, biological, and physical
farmers (Valera et al. 1987). environment in which the technology take
place Cruz (1987). Farmers have been seen
The outcome of new technology
as major constraint in development process
transfer is the farmers adoption and bringing
(Cruz 1987). They are innovators or laggards.
this into practice and further diffusion to other
Socio-psychological trait of farmers is
individuals in the community.
important. The age, education attainment,
Regarding to adoption, farmers income, family size, tenure status, credit use,
sometimes discover problems in putting value system, and beliefs were positively
recommendation into practice, the extent of related to adoption. The personal
adoption, adjustment or rejection depends on characteristics of extension worker such as
farmers' behavior (Valera et al. 1987). Mosher credibility, have good relationship with
(1987, cited by Cruz, 1978) defined that farmers, intelligence, emphatic ability,
adoption of an innovation is the process by sincerity, resourcefulness, ability to
which a particular farmer is exposed to, communicate with farmers, persuasiveness,
considers, and finally rejects or practices a and development orientation. The biophysical
particular innovation. The innovation decision environment influences the adoption. The
model by Rogers (1983) shows the process conditions of the farm include its location,
through which an individual (or other decision availability of resources and other facilities
making unit) passes from first knowledge of such as roads, markets, transportation, pests,
an innovation to forming an attitude towards rainfall distribution, soil type, water, services,
the innovation, to a decision to adopt or reject, and electricity. For instance, farmers whose
to implement of the new idea, and to farms were irrigated were the earliest
confirmation of this decision. adopters of new rice varieties, while those
without water were the late adopters. The
Diffusion is the process by which an innovation diffuses slowly if product price is
innovation is communicated through certain low.
channels overtime among the members of a
social system (Rogers, 1983). When new
96 Truong Thi Ngoc Chi et al.

Rogers and Shoemaker (1974) 2. Farmers perception of technology.

identified important variables that determine
Farmer believed that technologies are
the rate of adoption. One of these variables is
good to farmers. Farmers believe on
the perceived characteristic of the innovation
technologies because they give good
or technology. To be readily accepted or
efficiency in terms of high yield, less pest,
adopted, an innovation must possess five
and more benefit. Technology is important in
important attributes: relatively advantage,
agricultural production.
compatibility, complexity, trial ability, and
observability. Some technologies are adopted 3. Farmers learning of technology,
more rapidly than others because the farmers training, adoption and diffusion.
perceived them to have different
Farmers did not to be trained for most
characteristics.
of technologies related to agricultural
Farmers' use of technologies can be production. Farmers were trained on
influenced by various socio-economic factors. technology of Integrated Pest Management
Thus, this informal survey was conducted in (IPM), veterinary in pig raising, and fish
Omon district, Cantho province to understand production.
farmers view of technology and factors
Farmers who attended in training had
affecting in apply and adoption of technology.
talks to other farmers about what they learned
METHOD OF GATHERING INFORMATION from the courses. It was called as private oral
transmission. This kind of information diffusion
Focus group discussions mentioned by
usually occurred in coffee shop through
ASA (1997) were used to collect the
gossips. Therefore, most of men got
qualitative data. Group discussion was
information from trained farmers. The level of
conducted with knowledgeable farmers and
practices the information from oral
leaders of hamlets in Thoi Thanh, Thoi Long
transmission is not known. The effectiveness
and Thoi Lai villages (O Mon district, Cantho
depends on kind of technology and the place
province, Mekong Delta) to draw upon the
where it takes place. This kind of diffusion
information on how farmer view of technology,
happened spontaneously, if there is
their experience, belief, and adoption of
intervention at this step, the effectiveness of
technology. The additional contact with
technology diffusion must be higher.
individual farmer for complimenting
information was also conducted. Some production activities were not
learned from formal classes. For mushroom
RESULTS
cultivation, farmers have not learnt any
1. Farmers definition of technology technologies from extension technician yet.
However, they have heard information about
Technology refers to how to cultivate a
mushroom cultivation from radio and from oral
crop successfully. This success can be
transmission among farmers. Training for fruit
obtained by knowing how to apply fertilizer,
production is negligible. Only some good
control pests, and take care of plant for its
eating quality mango varieties Cat Chu and
healthy and good growing. Other group of
Cat Hoa Loc were introduced to farmers and
farmers said that technology refers to what
guide them how to plant. Farmers were taught
crop varieties and what kind of fertilizers that
how to use of flowering stimulators for mango
are suitable for the soil. Other definition from
and technology for fruit development. These
farmers is that technology is what introduced
technologies were adopted by only 1-2%
by scientists. This is knowledge. Technology
farmers who have big orchards. The small
is in cohesion with arts. This means that it is
orchard holders planting few mangos do not
flexible depending on soil and habits of
need to buy chemicals and hire labor to spray
farmers.
because they cannot use whole of chemical
They prefer the technology with low bottle at one time
input but high benefit, and ensure high
Farmers expected to be trained on crop
productivity
production, and plant protection for the upland
Factors affecting farmers adoption of technologies in farming system 97

crops. For fruit tree, farmers are afraid of other materials. (At present they can
weather problems. Farmers want to be trained access small loan only for rice cultivation)
on treatment for flowering, technologies for So far there have been 3 times of
increasing rate of sitting fruits. For rice, training on aquaculture : (1) Training of raising
farmers want to have intensive course for pest carp, silver carp; (2) Training of raising Goby
management, rice production with using drum fish, (3) Training of raising Giant Fresh Water
seeder and leaf color chart. Though these Prawn. Contents of the training includes:
training courses for rice were already
- Pond preparation, sanitary.
organized, farmers are still not yet all believed
- Selection fingerlings (same size
Training is the most important factor for fingerlings)
adoption of technology. Since 1994, farmers - Caring: feeding, rate of food of about 5%
have been trained on Integrated Pest of releasing weight
Management (IPM) in rice production from - Density: fingerlings/ unit area.
extension workers. So far, there have been - Veterinary
45% of farmers who attended IPM training in - Storage
Thoi Thanh village. The adoption of this - Harvesting
strategy was only 20%. The rest did not.
Pig raising is mostly at household level
However, IPM technology was used by most
with very small extent (1-2 pigs per
of farmers in Thoi Lai village by applying the
household). There is only guidance on
simple rule of not spraying insecticide before
medicine for pig raising through training or
30 days after sowing.
meeting. The new pig varieties were also
For those farmers who adopted low introduced. Farmers like pig variety to shorten
seeding rate and less fertilizer through using duration of rearing and fast increasing of
leaf color chart to reduce nitrogen fertilizer in weight.
rice because they found that low seeding rate
and less fertilizer application reduce rice Reasons for not adoption of technology:
disease infestation. Haft of farmers adopted of - Farmers did not believe because it was
row seeding. The rest are afraid of low yield new to them.
from row seeding due to low seed rate in this - They have not yet seen the demonstration
technique. They are afraid of golden snail fields.
attacking the rice field with low seed rate, then - They worried of low yield
there is nothing to compensate. Farmers - Low education
easily adopt Jasmin rice variety because this - Old age farmers: did not believe new
is good quality rice and can be sold high price technology and only believe their own
at harvest. experience.
Training on aquaculture and husbandry: - Old behavior of cultivation practices
At the beginning, farmers practised fish embedded in farmers for long period:
cultivation based on their own experience. were not persuaded to use new
Later, training was organized by technicians technology. They only practised by their
from extension station. This technology was own practices such as using high rate of
adopted easily by farmers. Provincial seeds in directly broadcasting and
Agricultural Extension Center in co-ordination spraying pesticide for prevention of insect
with Extension of the village guided farmers occurrence.
in aquaculture and husbandry. However, there - Large land holding farmers: Farmers are
are not many farmers having aquaculture feeling that it is not so sure about new
because of the following reasons: technologies, particularly to those farmers
have large land. They said if the yield
- There is not yet dikes constructed to loss due to new technologies in larger
prevent water during flood season, and field, the amount of loss will be greater.
- They lack of capitals for constructing According to Lazaro et al. (1993), farmers
dikes to raise fish, buying fingerlings and usually overestimate the yield loss caused
by insects rather than the actual loss.
98 Truong Thi Ngoc Chi et al.

- Problem in applying technologies: not - Trust on technicians

totally believe in technologies, and lack of - Observe demonstration fields, and believe
capital. Labor is not difficult in application that it is effective and then decide to
of technologies because farming is seen change
as their work for the food. - Test and recognize it is effective
- Oral transmission of new technologies
Reasons for adoption of technology:
among farmers through special occasion
- These farmers are progressive farmers. as dead anniversary, weeding, sitting in
They believe on science and technology. coffee shop
- Education: They went to school. They - Climate, weather.
know how to read and write (most are - Change in soil fertility: silt deposition in
men). flooding period
- Age group: They are young, less than 40
Farmers found that if a technology give
years old.
them more benefit, more effective in income,
- Recognition of saving money and health
they will change to use that technology. For
from IMP strategy.
example: change from normal rice to quality
- Those farmers having stable in economy
rice to sell higher price.
believe in technologies. Farmers who are
old and conservatives do not. 6. Ranking of technologies in terms of
farmers likeness
4. Adaptation of technologies
Farmers like IPM strategy for rice
The technologies can be used flexibly.
production very much followed by technology
For example, timing, quantity and kind of
for pig raising, and the third likeness is fish
fertilizer for application can be modified
cultivation. Though fish cultivation give higher
according to climate or weather, the level of
benefit than big rearing as in the says by
silt deposit after flooding period.
people that If you want to be rich, you raise
5. Reasons for changing in using of fish; if you want to be medium rich, you raise
technologies big; if you want to be poor, you rear ducks,
rearing big is most popular at household level
- Introduction from technicians, attend in the community than fish.
technical training

Table 1: Ranking of technology in term of farmers likeness

Technologies Likeness
st
IPM 1
nd
Big raising 2
Fish cultivation 3rd

7. Gender issue
participation in technical training was only
Gender in training: Most of women do
10%.
not access to technical training. They are
Gender use of technology: Most of
busy with household chores and caring of
technologies were used by men. IPM
children. They had no time to attend the
technology is mostly used by male farmers
training. They obtained low education and
(70% of men and 30% of women). Row
they were not invited. For example, in Thoi
seeding (use of drum seeder) was used by
Thanh village, there is 30 % of women who
men only.
attended IPM training in the last two years (a
total of 25 participants, only 7-8 are women). Regarding to animal technologies,
In Thoi Lai village, the rate of women male farmers followed new technologies for
animal raising meanwhile female farmers
Factors affecting farmers adoption of technologies in farming system 99

followed traditional practices because their gradually change to new technologies from
education was lower than men which limits the traditional practices
them in adoption of new technologies. They
Husband knows technologies more
than wife. Wife usually practises in the field.

Table 2: Who did more

Activity Who work

Rice production Husband > Wife
Fish rearing Husband > Wife
Chicken raising Wife > Husband
Pig rearing Wife > Husband
Planting pesticide-free vegetables Wife > Husband
Mango, Sapota planting and caring Husband > Wife

8. Farmers wealth : Farmers wealth may Farmers classify their wealth as rich, medium
have influence on technology adoption. and poor.

Table 3: Classification of households based on household economy:

Criteria Rich Medium Poor

Land area 2-3 ha 1-1.5 ha 0-0.4 ha
Income/capita > 500 000 VND/month 500 000 VND/month < 100 000 VND/month
House type Permanent Semi permanent Temporary
Entertainment Color television Color television Second hand color
mean television
Equipment Motorcycle Motorcycle None
Thresher Half of them having
Rotovator thresher
Other activities Big trading Small trading Making bamboo trap
for catching small
prawn
Food Delicious Medium delicious Lack of nutrient

CONCLUSION farmers adopted technologies introduced

because it they are new to them. They were
Factors affecting in change of
feeling hesitated in application of new
technology use include the access to the
technology because they do not believe that
technical training, meeting, oral transmission,
the new technology can ensure the high yield.
trust on technician and believe on technology
These farmers are usually old age and work
introduced by scientist.
based on their own experience.
Technologies for rice, fruit and fish
Though farmers perceived technology
production are mostly used by men and for
as good thing to them, they still faced
husbandry (pig, chicken) by women. More
problems in application of technologies.
men than women access to technical training
These comprise of lacking of capital, direction
and meeting.
of the government and extension, lack ensure
Factors that trigger adoption of new of yield by compensation policy.
technologies comprise of progressive, young
and educated farmers. However, not all
100 Truong Thi Ngoc Chi et al.

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SUMMARY IN VIETNAMESE

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trong h thng canh tc Mn, Cn Th

S thay i k thut trong canh tc ca nng dn l do vic tham d cc lp

tp hun, hi hp, s truyn ming t nng dn ny sang nng dn khc, mc
tin tng vo cn b k thut v mc tin cy vo hiu qu k thut. Nam nng
dn thng s dng cc k thut phc v cho sn xut la, cy n tri v c. Tri
li, n nng dn thng s dng k thut v chn nui nhiu hn nam. Yu t
thc y s tip nhn k thut mi bao gm s cp tin, tr tui v trnh vn
ho. Nhng nng dn tr tui, c tnh tin b v bit c bit vit tip nhn k
thut mi nhanh hn. Nhng nng dn ln tui v bo th khng tin tng nhiu
vo k thut mi. Phn ln nng dn c nhn thc ng n v k thut, nhng
vic p dng mt k thut mi khng d dng i vi h v thiu vn, thiu s
hng dn ca cn b khuyn nng, cha c chnh sch chung ca a phng,
v khng c ch n b ri ro ca k thut mi a ra.