Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
about even a limited number of action options is inadequate to formulate definitive
attitudes toward the options being assessed, then it is highly likely that adoption
will be slow to occur because potential adopters may be uncertain about possible
outcomes. Land managers will be reluctant to change existing production systems
unless they are certain the change will result in a more viable farm operation.
Inaccurate and/or inadequate information could also result in the development of
negative attitudes about the action options being assessed because important com-
ponents of the innovations being assessed are not provided. If some of the possible
benefits of specific innovations are not provided, potential adopters may perceive the
options being assessed less favorably and elect not to adopt. If adoption takes place
using inadequate or inaccurate information, expected outcomes of adoption may not
be realized because the perceptions formulated may be unrealistic relative to pos-
sible outcomes.
Assuming that adequate and accurate information about soil and water con-
servation has been provided to potential adopters so that they have been able to
formulate valid attitudes about action options being considered, land managers
must eventually make the decision to adopt or to reject specific conservation tech-
nologies and/or techniques. Major factors that influence the ultimate decision at
this stage of the decision making process are primarily related to the ability of
the land manager to effectively implement the adoption decision. Land managers
must determine if they have relevant farm management skills and the economic
resources to implement the adoption decision. Individual farmers must determine
if the action option being assessed is relevant to their farm operation and if it is
consistent with other components of the farm enterprise. There are many other
factors farmers must consider when making the adoption decision, such as the
level of technical skills required to effectively implement the conservation produc-
tion system being evaluated, the potential impact of failure of the selected action
option to produce expected outcomes on the socioeconomic viability of the farm
enterprise, the short-term and long-term impacts of the adoption decision, the abil-
ity to reject the adoption decision at some future time without harming the future
viability of the farm enterprise, expected return to investment made in the conser-
vation action option being considered, and the potential sociocultural impacts of
the adoption decision on the family.
Assuming subsistence farmers elect to adopt new conservation production sys-
tems, they must marshal economic resources and technical expertise to implement
the adoption decision. In lesser-scale societies, this is often a very difficult task.
Relatively few farmers in lesser-scale societies possess sufficient economic resources
to implement conservation production systems at the farm level. If the conservation
production system being considered requires the allocation of extensive economic
resources, it is highly unlikely that implementation will occur unless some sponsor
provides the economic resources to finance adoption. Most farmers in lesser-scale
societies are subsistence farmers who are barely able to feed and clothe their family.
Surplus income is a rarity among subsistence farmers, and such farmers have little
or no access to credit institutions. Lack of capital to invest in conservation is a very
significant barrier to adoption of conservation production systems among subsis-
tence farmers.
