Studies consider the impact of financial support on agricultural technology adoption, but do not consider the role of the rapidly evolving Digital Financial Inclusion (DFI). This study analyzes the ...impact of DFI on farmers’ willingness to adopt agricultural technology (WTAAT) using data from the China Labor-force Dynamics Survey and the Digital Financial Inclusion Index of Peking University, China. The results show that DFI significantly increases farmers’ WTAAT, consistent with the results of robustness tests. Moreover, the analysis of moderating effects shows that the contribution of DFI to WTAAT increases with the level of financial market development. Finally, WTAAT is affected by DFI development among farmers who receive government subsidies, participate in production technology training, and have no local non-agricultural economy. Therefore, we propose policy recommendations for developing DFI in rural areas, improving the financial market environment, and increasing subsidies and technical training. Our study provides some empirical evidence for exploring the field of agricultural technology adoption from the perspective of DFI and also provides new ideas for combining the digital transformation of finance with sustainable agricultural development, enriching the development of research in this field, which may also provide policy insights for the development of agricultural modernization in China and other countries.
Comprising the largest population cohort on this planet, Gen Z presents a future-oriented consumer segment driven by climate change and food. This study sought to investigate Gen Z’s perceptions ...toward plant-based foods and diets and explore the relationship that attitude components, meal preparation involvement, personal and lifestyle factors, and perceived barriers in adopting a plant-based diet have with willingness to adopt green-eating practices. Using cross-sectional data from university students in Greece, India, and the UK, various tools were employed to determine the factors influencing youths’ consumer behavior toward animal-protein substitutes. PCA indicated the underlying dimensions of students’ viewpoints on plant-based foods, whereas hierarchical and k-means clustering provided the cluster structure. An ordered probit model was estimated to delineate Gen Z’s willingness to adopt plant-based diets and distinguish among mostly unwilling, somewhat willing, and mostly willing youths. Our findings identified two consumer segments, namely proponents and opponents of plant-based foods and diets, with statistically significant differences in the perceived health benefits of plant-based diets, attachment to animal-based proteins, perceived exclusion of animal-based foods, dissatisfaction with plant-based foods’ attributes, and demand for ensuring adequate protein intake. The ordered probit model estimates showed that there is a “homogeneity” in the factors influencing youths’ intention to adopt plant-based diets, with attitude components, meal preparation indicators, perceived barriers to eating “green”, and personal factors, such as self-assessed knowledge of healthy eating and physical activity, being strongly associated with students’ willingness to switch to plant-based diets in all three countries. Mapping potential obstacles and enablers in terms of shifting to more green-eating behaviors, our findings could add information to better understand the factors affecting food choice and youths’ transition to a more sustainable lifestyle.
Based on the microdata of 11,547 farmers from the China Labor Dynamics Survey (CLDS) database in 2017, an ordered multi-classification logistic model was constructed to empirically test the impact of ...social capital (i.e., social networks, social participation, and social trust) on farmers’ willingness to adopt agricultural technology. The moderating effect of demographic changes (i.e., the number of instances of hukou migration) on social capital and farmers’ willingness to adopt new agricultural technology was further investigated. The results show that the following: (1) Social trust has a significant positive impact on farmers’ willingness to adopt new agricultural technologies, while social participation has no significant impact on farmers’ willingness to adopt new technologies. (2) Social networks influence farmers’ technology adoption behavior differently, e.g., the scope of relatives’ wedding gifts has a significant and positive influence on farmers’ technology adoption behavior, while the scope of non-relatives’ wedding gifts has no significant influence on farmers’ technology adoption behavior. (3) Demographic change plays a moderating role in the impact of social capital on farmers’ willingness to adopt new agricultural technologies. In other words, the greater the number of instances of hukou migration, the less the promoting effect of social capital on farmers’ willingness to adopt agricultural technology. (4) In the eastern and central regions of China, social capital has a significant positive impact on farmers’ adoption of new agricultural technologies. In the western region of China, social capital has a significant negative impact on farmers’ adoption of new agricultural technology. In the northeast region of China, social capital has no significant impact on farmers’ adoption of new agricultural technologies. Social capital and population changes are important factors that affect farmers’ willingness to adopt new agricultural technologies. Therefore, attention should be paid to cultivating and promoting farmers’ social capital to improve farmers’ willingness to adopt new agricultural technologies.
The electric shuttle bus service is a pro-environmental transportation method with the advantages of conserving fossil fuel consumption and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. It could also provide ...flexible shuttle services and enhance travel convenience for residents. Although it has many advantages, users’ willingness to accept the electric shuttle bus service is crucial to its successful implementation. A theoretical research model that integrates UTAUT and NAM with an attitude construct is developed based on the data collected in China to explore antecedents of using electric shuttle bus services. The validity of the proposed model is examined by partial least squares structural equation modeling. According to analysis results, the proposed research model could explain 73.5% of the variance in adoption intention. Results demonstrate that attitude is the strongest antecedent of using electric shuttle bus services. Performance expectancy, personal norms, and social influence are the direct antecedents, and ascription of responsibility and effort expectancy is demonstrated as the indirect antecedents of using electric shuttle bus services. Results also offer valuable insights into how electric shuttle bus services can be accepted and implemented more readily.
Agriculture contributes to the South African economy, but this sector is highly vulnerable to climate change risks. Smallholder maize farmers are specifically susceptible to climate change impacts. ...The maize crop plays a crucial role in the country’s food security as is considered a staple food and feed. The study aimed at examining the socioeconomic factors influencing smallholder maize farmers’ willingness to adopt climate-smart agriculture in the Limpopo Province, South Africa. It was conducted in three different areas due to their specific agro-ecological zones. A multipurpose research design was used to gather data, and multistage random sampling was used to choose the study areas. Subsequently, 209 purposefully selected farmers were interviewed face-to-face using structured questionnaires and focus discussion groups. Descriptive results revealed that 81%, 67%, and 63% farmers in Ga-Makanye, Gabaza, and Giyani were willing to adopt CSA. Using the double-hurdle model, the t-test was significant at 1%, Prob > chi2 = 0. 0000, indicating a good model. At a 5% confidence level, education, crop diversification, and information about climate-smart agriculture (CSA) positively influenced adoption, while household size and agricultural experience negatively influenced it. It is recommended that the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform, and Rural Development provide CSA workshops and educational programs to farmers to enhance their knowledge and decision-making processes regarding adaptation strategies.
Despite the rising popularity in the adoption and usage of prepayment meters, little is still known about the drivers of its adoption. We examine the willingness to adopt prepayment metering (PPM) ...for a sample of Nigerian households that were not prepayment users. Double-hurdle models were estimated to account for households' decisions concerning billing system switching behaviour and households' willingness to pay (WTP). The estimated results revealed that decisions to adopt a prepayment meter are significantly affected by current electricity spending, current billing method and the split incentive problem. Whereas current electricity spending significantly increased the tendency to adopt PPM, the split incentive problem reduced the probability of adoption. Although unmetered consumers were more likely to express a willingness to adopt a PPM system than post-paid customers, they did not intend to pay a significantly higher amount to obtain the prepayment service. Income did not play a significant role in decision-making concerning PPM adoption and the corresponding WTP amount. These results cast doubt on the validity of the widely held belief that low income may be responsible for PPM adoption, reflecting the widespread usage of PPM by low-income households.
The quality of cultivated land is an important basis for guaranteeing grain yield, and improving the quality of cultivated land is an important initiative of the Chinese government to implement its ...food security strategy. This paper explores the effects of formal technical training and informal online self-directed learning on farmers’ willingness to adopt cultivated land conservation technology using farmer-level survey data. The results show that farmers’ participation in technical training effectively increased their willingness to adopt straw return technologies, but participation in online self-directed learning did not affect farmers’ willingness to adopt, while farmers who participated in both technical training and online self-directed learning had stronger willingness to adopt. These results show that internet-based self-directed learning is a useful supplement to the formal training system. Further analysis revealed that participation in technical training increased farmers’ awareness of the usefulness of the straw-return technology, which in turn increased their willingness to adopt the conservation technology of cropland. This paper clarifies the impact and mechanisms of the two main existing technology learning modes on farmers’ adoption of new technologies in rural China and provides a reference for the promotion of agricultural technology diffusion and the improvement of the quality of cultivated land in China.
Organic agriculture is an emerging intervention in the farming system of Nepal, largely influenced by sharp demand in the national and regional markets, anticipated brisk economic growth, and growing ...concern of sustainability. The paper examined the determining and motivational factors affecting the decision of conventional producers and consumers towards organic vegetables. The very likely determining factors of willingness to pay and willingness to accept for consumers and producers, respectively, were identified using probit model. Findings revealed that education, landholding size, experience, information obtained from training and mobile/internet, and perception on organic productivity were significant determining factors for willingness to adopt organic farming at producers’ level. Similarly, age, education level, per capita income, perception on taste and nutrition of organic vegetables, and attitudes toward environment and pesticide residues were significantly influential to consumers’ willingness to pay a premium price for organic vegetables. Therefore, policymakers should consider the cost-saving strategies and information extension to encourage organic conversion at the producers’ level. At consumers’ level, nutrition and residual labeling and certification along with nudging strategies should be adopted to encourage and build confidence on organic vegetables.
Safe and environmentally friendly production has become an important trend in the aquaculture sector. Vietnam has successfully implemented a certified organic shrimp production project and is now ...planning to expand it. To successfully implement the certified organic shrimp production project in new areas, the ex ante evaluation of the factors influencing farmers’ decision to participate in this project is essential. Thus, this research determines factors affecting shrimp farmers’ decision to participate in a certified organic shrimp production project by analyzing a multinomial logit model. A survey was conducted in the Vietnamese part of the Mekong Delta and covered 220 shrimp farmers. The results show that farmers who have higher mangrove coverage in their shrimp farms are more likely to participate in the project. The likelihood of adoption also increases when farmers have a higher level of education. Interestingly, the premium commanded by the certified organic shrimp is not among the important factors affecting farmers’ decision to participate in the project.
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