STRUCTURAL EQUATION MODELLING OF SOCIO-ECONOMIC DETERMINANTS OF MODERN TECHNOLOGY ADOPTION FOR SUSTAINABLE NATURAL RESOURCES MANAGEMENT IN ADJA AND NAGOT AREAS OF BENIN REPUBLIC
Abstract
This paper evaluated data collected from 120 households in two areas of Benin Republic to identify socio-economic determinants of modern technologies adoption for sustainable management of natural resources. The methodological approach used is based on a structural equation modeling with latent variables. For the two areas, the results show that the participation in agricultural projects and frequent contacts with project agents were key factors of adoption. In fact, an increase in participation decision by 1 unit led to an increase in adoption decision by 1.28 units in Adja area and 2.05 units in Nagot (p<0.1). Likewise, socio-economic factors related to human capital, availability and access to production inputs and soil fertility determined participation in projects and adoption of technologies in Adja area. Conversely in Nagot area, socio-economic factors related to soil fertility did not influence adoption. These results suggest that agricultural policy should enhance the quality and efficiency of management of agricultural projects for both private and public initiatives in order to improve adoption of modern technologies for sustainable natural resources management in Benin Republic. The results have also revealed those factors that are vital for the promotion of adoption of technologies while implementing agricultural and natural resources management projects by government and donor agencies in Benin Republic.
References
Cliff, N. 1983. Some cautions concerning the application of causal modeling methods. Multivariate Behavioural Research, 18: 115-126.
Darlington, R.B. 1990. Regression and linear models. New York: McGraw-Hill.
Freud C. l. 1985. Projets de coopération ou aide au développement. In : Boiral, P. ; Olivier De Sardan, J.-P. (ed.): Paysans, experts et chercheurs en Afrique Noire. Sciences Sociales et Développement Rural. Karthala, Paris. Pp 45-52.
Doppler, W., Bothe, M. 1999. Gender Modelling and Impact Assessment of Innovations: Results from Benin. In: Farmers and Scientists in a Changing Environment: Assessing Research in West Africa. Renard, G.; Krieg, S.; Lawrence P.; von Oppen, M. (Eds). Margraf Verlag, Weikersheim, Germany. Pp 369-376.
Gtz 2000. Turning attention towards results: How GTZ is building up its impact evaluation capacity. Eschborn, Deutschland; 32p.
Honlonkou, N.A. 1999. Impact économique des techniques de fertilisation des sols : Cas de la jachère Mucuna au Sud du Bénin. Thèse de doctorat de 3è Cycle. CIRES, Côte-d’Ivoire. 135p.
Hu, L., Bentler, P.M. 1995. Evaluating model fit. In: Structural equation modelling: Concepts, issues and applications. Hoyle, R. H. (Ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage. Pp 76-99.
IFPRI 2001. Current Food Policy Issues in Bangladesh. Advisory Notes to the Secretary of Food. Volume V. International Food Research Institute, Washington DC, USA. 25p.
Kenny, D.A. 1979. Correlation and Causation. New York: John Wiley.
Langyintuo, A.S. 1996. Adoption of Soybean Technology: Lessons from Northern Ghana. In: Bierschenk, T.; Le Meur, P. –Y.; von Oppen, M. (Editors) (1996). Institutions and Technologies for Rural Development in West Africa. Margraf Verlag Weikersheim, Germany. Pp 163-170.
Ling, R.F. 1982. Review of “Correlation and Causation”. Journal of the American Statistical Association, 77: 489-491.
Maruyama, G.M. 1997. Basics of Structural Equation Modeling. SAGE Publication, California. 311p.
Morris, M.L., Tripp, R., Dankyi, A.A. 1999. Adoption and Impacts of Improved Maize Production Technology: A case study of the Ghana Grains Development Project. CIMMYT/ CRI/CIDA, Mexico City, Mexico, 23p
Robert, R.K., English, B.C., Larson, J.A. 2002. Factors affecting the location of precision farming technology adoption in Tennessee. Journal of Extension, 40(1): 12-21.
Samantha, J. 2001. Sustainability and institutional perspectives on natural resource planning and management at Ukwini resettlement scheme, Zambia. In TWPR (Third World Planning Review), Vol. 23, Nr. 4. Liverpool University Press, England. Pp 32-39.
Steenkamp, J.B., van Trijp, E.M., H. C. M. 1996. Quality guidance: A consumer-based approach to food quality improvement using partial least squares. In: de Gruyter, W. (ed.): European Review of Agricultural Economics. Berlin. Germany. Pp 102-111.
Wiens, T., Sobrado, C. 1998. Rural Poverty in Haiti. In: “Haiti: The challenge of poverty reduction”. Poverty reduction and Economic Management Unit and Caribbean Country Management Unit, Latin American and the Caribbean Region. Report No. 17242 HA. Washington, D.C.: WORLD BANK. 65p.
