Factors influencing the adoption of improved groundnut cultivars amongst smallholder farmers in Singida Tanzania

Abstract

Groundnut is amongst the global important food and cash crops; irrespective of its importance, studies report its low adoption. Amongst the reported adoption factors were age, gender, education, group membership and seed availability. Nevertheless, there is insufficient documentation on the influence of these factors on the adoption of groundnut amongst beneficiaries of Singida Rural Farmer Research Networks (FRNs). Innovation systems, networks and Roger’s theories of diffusion of innovations guided this study to establish the determinants of the adoption of improved groundnut cultivars amongst these target groups. Specifically, the study (1) assessed the adoption of improved groundnuts in relation to farmers’ socio-economic characteristics; (2) determined the factors that influenced the adoption of improved groundnuts and (3) examined farmers’ adoption perception towards access to services, technological characteristics and the institutional environment. Cross-sectional design and mixed research methods were used. The socioeconomic characteristics of farmers were compared using Chi-square test cross-tabulations. The binary logistic regression model was used to determine factors influencing the adoption of improved groundnut cultivars. A Likert scale was used to assess the farmers’ perceptions towards the adoption of improved groundnut cultivars in relation to access to services, technological characteristics and the institutional environment. Findings show that socioeconomic characteristics such as age, sex, marital status, education level and income had no significant influence on the adoption of improved groundnuts. The adoption of improved groundnuts was significantly influenced by three factors: FRN group membership, seed accessibility and technological characteristics which include adaptive to agroecological zones, high yields, early maturity, drought tolerance, pests and disease resistance. The majority of farmers had a positive perception towards access to services, technological characteristics and the institutional environment for the adoption of improved groundnut cultivars. In this regard, sensitization for more farmers to join groups and enhancement of timely seed availability and accessibility of improved groundnut cultivars are recommended.