Motivations and mental models associated with smallholder farmers’ adoption of improved agricultural technology: Evidence from use of quality seed potato in Kenya

Potato is a major food staple that makes a significant contribution to food security, having potential to smooth the volatility in food prices resulting from recent episodes of global food price increases. Despite its importance, most potato growers continue to use poor-quality seed, normally obtain...

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Main Authors: Okello, J.J., Zhou, Y., Schulte-Geldermann, Elmar, Barker, I.
Format: Journal Article
Language:Inglés
Published: Springer 2019
Subjects:
Online Access:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/96920
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author Okello, J.J.
Zhou, Y.
Schulte-Geldermann, Elmar
Barker, I.
author_browse Barker, I.
Okello, J.J.
Schulte-Geldermann, Elmar
Zhou, Y.
author_facet Okello, J.J.
Zhou, Y.
Schulte-Geldermann, Elmar
Barker, I.
author_sort Okello, J.J.
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description Potato is a major food staple that makes a significant contribution to food security, having potential to smooth the volatility in food prices resulting from recent episodes of global food price increases. Despite its importance, most potato growers continue to use poor-quality seed, normally obtained from local/community sources. This study uses means-end chain theory to examine the drivers of use of quality seed potato, and the mental models associated with quality seed potato use. It finds that the decision to purchase and use quality seed is driven by deep-seated life goals that farmers pursue, and that profit-making is merely a means to these end/life goals. It further finds that the structure of mental models differs by the gender of the adopter and between adopters and nonadopters. The study concludes that the structure and content of farmers’ mental models differ by farmer type. The implications of the study findings for policy are discussed.
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spelling CGSpace969202025-11-29T05:22:15Z Motivations and mental models associated with smallholder farmers’ adoption of improved agricultural technology: Evidence from use of quality seed potato in Kenya Okello, J.J. Zhou, Y. Schulte-Geldermann, Elmar Barker, I. potatoes seed potatoes smallholders mental models adoption Potato is a major food staple that makes a significant contribution to food security, having potential to smooth the volatility in food prices resulting from recent episodes of global food price increases. Despite its importance, most potato growers continue to use poor-quality seed, normally obtained from local/community sources. This study uses means-end chain theory to examine the drivers of use of quality seed potato, and the mental models associated with quality seed potato use. It finds that the decision to purchase and use quality seed is driven by deep-seated life goals that farmers pursue, and that profit-making is merely a means to these end/life goals. It further finds that the structure of mental models differs by the gender of the adopter and between adopters and nonadopters. The study concludes that the structure and content of farmers’ mental models differ by farmer type. The implications of the study findings for policy are discussed. 2019-04-10 2018-08-27T02:33:27Z 2018-08-27T02:33:27Z Journal Article https://hdl.handle.net/10568/96920 en Open Access Springer Okello, J.; Zhou, Y.; Barke, I.; Schulte-Geldermann, E. 2018. Motivations and mental models associated with smallholder farmers’ adoption of improved agricultural technology: Evidence from use of quality seed potato in Kenya. The European Journal of Development Research. ISSN 0957-8811. 31:2. pp. 271–292.
spellingShingle potatoes
seed potatoes
smallholders
mental models
adoption
Okello, J.J.
Zhou, Y.
Schulte-Geldermann, Elmar
Barker, I.
Motivations and mental models associated with smallholder farmers’ adoption of improved agricultural technology: Evidence from use of quality seed potato in Kenya
title Motivations and mental models associated with smallholder farmers’ adoption of improved agricultural technology: Evidence from use of quality seed potato in Kenya
title_full Motivations and mental models associated with smallholder farmers’ adoption of improved agricultural technology: Evidence from use of quality seed potato in Kenya
title_fullStr Motivations and mental models associated with smallholder farmers’ adoption of improved agricultural technology: Evidence from use of quality seed potato in Kenya
title_full_unstemmed Motivations and mental models associated with smallholder farmers’ adoption of improved agricultural technology: Evidence from use of quality seed potato in Kenya
title_short Motivations and mental models associated with smallholder farmers’ adoption of improved agricultural technology: Evidence from use of quality seed potato in Kenya
title_sort motivations and mental models associated with smallholder farmers adoption of improved agricultural technology evidence from use of quality seed potato in kenya
topic potatoes
seed potatoes
smallholders
mental models
adoption
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/96920
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