Abstract
Conservation agriculture (CA) is promoted by various organisations and scholars as alternative to conventional agriculture to meet growing food demand with minimal damage on environment; but its factors of adoption have not been well identified. The study uses the recent composite index of adoption of CA developed by Takam Fongang et al. (2023) to analyse the factors of adoption of conservation agriculture among maize and soybean farmers in Quebec. Using data from 93 maize and soybean producers and a Fractional logit model, the study shows that adoption of CA increases with farmer’s favourable perceptions of yield and easiness of implementing CA, off-farm employment and higher education. The study therefore indicates that higher education, technical assistance and popularisation of performance of CA can play a significant role in boosting adoption of CA in Quebec.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Abdulai AN (2016) Impact of conservation agriculture technology on household welfare in Zambia. Agric Econ 47(6):729–741. https://doi.org/10.1111/agec.12269
AFD (2006) Le semis direct sur couverture végétale permanente (SCV). Agence Française de Développement, France
Awada L, Lindwall CW, Sonntag B (2014) The development and adoption of conservation tillage systems on the Canadian Prairies. Int Soil Water Conserv Res 2(1):47–65. https://doi.org/10.1016/s2095-6339(15)30013-7
Bavorová M, Unay-Gailhard İ, Ponkina EV, Pilařová T (2020) How sources of agriculture information shape the adoption of reduced tillage practices? J Rural Stud 79:88–101. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jrurstud.2020.08.034
Bocquého G, Jacquet F, Reynaud A (2014) Expected utility or prospect theory maximisers? Assessing farmers’ risk behaviour from field-experiment data. Eur Rev Agric Econ 41(1):135–172. https://doi.org/10.1093/erae/jbt006
Corbeels M, Scopel E, Cardoso A, Bernoux M, Douzet J-M, Neto MS (2006) Soil carbon storage potential of direct seeding mulch-based cropping systems in the Cerrados of Brazil. Glob Change Biol 12(9):1773–1787. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2486.2006.01233.x
D’Emden FH, Llewellyn RS, Burton MP (2008) Factors influencing adoption of conservation tillage in Australian cropping regions. Aust J Agric Resour Econ 52(2):169–182. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-8489.2008.00409.x
Davey KA, Furtan WH (2008) Factors that affect the adoption decision of conservation tillage in the prairie region of canada. Can J Agric Econ 56:1257–1275
Feder G, Slade R (1984) The acquisition of information and the adoption of new technology. Am J Agric Econ 66(3):312–320
Fisher M, Holden ST, Thierfelder C, Katengeza SP (2018) Awareness and adoption of conservation agriculture in Malawi: what difference can farmer-to-farmer extension make? Int J Agric Sustain 16(3):310–325. https://doi.org/10.1080/14735903.2018.1472411
Getahun W, Haji J, Mehare A, Zemedu L (2023) Drivers of income diversification among rural households in the,hiopian central highlands. Food Energy Security, 12(3). https://doi.org/10.1002/fes3.443
Ghadim AKA, Pannell DJ (2003) Risk Attitudes and Risk Perceptions of Crop Producers in Western Australia. Dans B. A. Babcock, R. W. Fraser, J. N. Lekakis (dirs.), Risk Management and the Environment: Agriculture in Perspective (Risk Management and the Environment: Agriculture in Perspective éd.) : Springer, Dordrecht
Ghadim AKA, Pannell DJ, Burton MP (2005) Risk, uncertainty, and learning in adoption of a crop innovation. Agric Econ 33(1):1–9. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1574-0862.2005.00433.x
Ghazalian PL, Larue B, West GE (2009) Best management practices to enhance water quality who is adopting them journal of agricultural and applied economics, 41,3(December 2009).pdf>. J Agric Appl Econ 41(3):663–682
Grabowski PP, Kerr JM (2013) Resource constraints and partial adoption of conservation agriculture by hand-hoe farmers in Mozambique. Int J Agric Sustain 12(1):37–53. https://doi.org/10.1080/14735903.2013.782703
Hobbs PR, Sayre K, Gupta R (2008) The role of conservation agriculture in sustainable agriculture. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 363(1491):543–555. https://doi.org/10.1098/rstb.2007.2169
Hou L, Liu P, Huang J, Deng X (2020) The influence of risk preferences, knowledge, land consolidation, and landscape diversification on pesticide use. Agric Econ 51(5):759–776. https://doi.org/10.1111/agec.12590
Jin J, Xuhong T, Wan X, He R, Kuang F, Ning J (2020) Farmers’ risk aversion, loss aversion and climate change adaptation strategies in Wushen Banner, China. J Environ Plan Manag 1-14. https://doi.org/10.1080/09640568.2020.1742098
Kagoya S, Paudel KP, Daniel NL (2018) Awareness and adoption of soil and water conservation technologies in a developing country: A case of nabajuzi watershed in central Uganda. Environ Manag 61(2):188–196. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00267-017-0967-4
Kassam A, Friedrich T, Derpsch R (2018) Global spread of conservation agriculture. Int J Environ Stud 76(1):29–51. https://doi.org/10.1080/00207233.2018.1494927
Kassam A, Friedrich T, Derpsch R (2022) Successful experiences and lessons from conservation agriculture worldwide. Agronomy 12(4). https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy12040769
Kassam A, Friedrich T, Shaxson F, Pretty J (2011) The spread of conservation agriculture: justification, sustainability and uptake. Int J Agric Sustain 7(4):292–320. https://doi.org/10.3763/ijas.2009.0477
Kassie M, Teklewold H, Marenya P, Jaleta M, Erenstein O (2015) Production risks and food security under alternative technology choices in malawi: application of a multinomial endogenous switching regression. J Agric Econ 66(3):640–659. https://doi.org/10.1111/1477-9552.12099
Khonje MG, Manda J, Alene AD, Kassie M (2015) Analysis of adoption and impacts of improved maize varieties in Eastern Zambia. World Dev 66:695–706. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.worlddev.2014.09.008
Khonje MG, Manda J, Mkandawire P, Tufa AH, Alene AD (2018) Adoption and welfare impacts of multiple agricultural technologies: evidence from eastern Zambia. Agric Econ 49(5):599–609. https://doi.org/10.1111/agec.12445
Knowler D, Bradshaw B (2007) Farmers’ adoption of conservation agriculture: A review and synthesis of recent research. Food Policy 32(1):25–48. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodpol.2006.01.003
Kolady D, Zhang W, Wang T, Ulrich-Schad J (2020) Spatially mediated peer effects in the adoption of conservation agriculture practices. J Agric Appl Econ 53(1):1–20. https://doi.org/10.1017/aae.2020.24
Król-Badziak A, Pishgar-Komleh SH, Rozakis S, Księżak J (2021) Environmental and socio-economic performance of different tillage systems in maize grain production: Application of life cycle assessment and multi-criteria decision making. J Clean Prod 278. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2020.123792
Lal R (2018) Sustainable intensification of China’s agroecosystems by conservation agriculture. Int Soil Water Conserv Res 6(1):1–12. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.iswcr.2017.11.001
Leblanc G, Lucotte M, Mertens F, Séguin C (2020) Profitability prospects, risk aversion and time preferences of soybean producers in the region of Santarém, Brazilian Amazon: perspectives for an ecological transition. Renew Agric Food Syst 36(3):290–298. https://doi.org/10.1017/s1742170520000307
Liu EM (2013) Time to change what to sow: risk preferences and technology adoption decisions of cotton farmers in China. Rev Econ Stat 95(4):1386–1403. https://doi.org/10.1162/REST_a_00295
Manda J, Alene AD, Gardebroek C, Kassie M, Tembo G (2016) Adoption and impacts of sustainable agricultural practices on maize yields and incomes: Evidence from Rural Zambia. J Agric Econ 67(1):130–153. https://doi.org/10.1111/1477-9552.12127
Mango N, Makate C, Tamene L, Mponela P, Ndengu G (2017) Awareness and adoption of land, soil and water conservation practices in the Chinyanja Triangle, Southern Africa. Int Soil Water Conserv Res 5(2):122–129. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.iswcr.2017.04.003
Mango N, Siziba S, Makate C (2017) The impact of adoption of conservation agriculture on smallholder farmers’ food security in semi-arid zones of southern Africa. Agric Food Security, 6(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s40066-017-0109-5
Mao H, Zhou L, Ifft J, Ying R (2019) Risk preferences, production contracts and technology adoption by broiler farmers in China. China Econ Rev 54:147–159. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chieco.2018.10.014
Mohan, S (2020). Risk aversion and certification: Evidence from the Nepali tea fields. World Development 129. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.worlddev.2020.104903
Montt G, Luu T (2019) Does conservation agriculture change labour requirements? evidence of sustainable intensification in Sub‐Saharan Africa. J Agric Econ 71(2):556–580. https://doi.org/10.1111/1477-9552.12353
Mutyasira V, Hoag D, Pendell D, Manning DT, Berhe M (2018) Assessing the relative sustainability of smallholder farming systems in,hiopian highlands. Agric Syst 167:83–91. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agsy.2018.08.006
Ng’ombe J, Kalinda T, Tembo G, Kuntashula E (2014) Econometric analysis of the factors that affect adoption of conservation farming practices by smallholder farmers in Zambia. J Sustain Development 7(4). https://doi.org/10.5539/jsd.v7n4p124
Papke LE, Wooldridge JM (1996) Econometric methods for fractional response variables with an application to 401(k) plan participation rates. J Appl Econ 11(6):619–632. 10.1002/(sici)1099-1255(199611)11:6<619::Aid-jae418>3.0.Co;2-1
Pittelkow CM, Liang X, Linquist BA, van Groenigen KJ, Lee J, Lundy ME, van Kessel C (2015) Productivity limits and potentials of the principles of conservation agriculture. Nature 517(7534):365–368. https://doi.org/10.1038/nature13809
Québec (2023) Amélioration des pratiques agroenvironnementales - le ministre Lamontagne annonce l'ouverture officielle de la deuxième cohorte d'agriculteurs et d'agricultrices qui pourra bénéficier d'un soutien financier de 29 M$. Cabinet du ministre de l’Agriculture, des Pêcheries et de l’Alimentation.
Ramsey SM, Bergtold JS, Canales E, Williams JR (2019) Effects of farmers’ yield-risk perceptions on conservation practice adoption in Kansas. J of Agric Resour Econ 44(2):24
Scopel E, Findeling A, Guerra EC, Corbeels M (2005) Impact of direct sowing mulch-based cropping systems on soil carbon, soil erosion and maize yield. Agron Sustain Dev 25(4):425–432. https://doi.org/10.1051/agro:2005041
Sharma P, Abrol V, Sharma RK (2011) Impact of tillage and mulch management on economics, energy requirement and crop performance in maize–wheat rotation in rainfed subhumid inceptisols, India. Eur J Agron 34(1):46–51. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eja.2010.10.003
Shiferaw B, Kassie M, Jaleta M, Yirga C (2014) Adoption of improved wheat varieties and impacts on household food security in,hiopia. Food Policy 44:272–284. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodpol.2013.09.012
Takam-Fongang GM, Kamdem CB, Kane GQ (2019) Adoption and impact of improved maize varieties on maize yields: Evidence from central Cameroon. Rev Dev Econ 23(1):172–188. https://doi.org/10.1111/rode.12561
Takam Fongang GM, Guay J-F, Séguin C (2023) A composite index measuring adoption of conservation agriculture among maize and soybean farmers in Québec. Agronomy 13(3). https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy13030777
Tambo JA, Mockshell J (2018) Differential impacts of conservation agriculture technology options on household income in Sub-Saharan Africa. Ecol Econ 151:95–105. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolecon.2018.05.005
Tamini LD (2011) A nonparametric analysis of the impact of agri-environmental advisory activities on best management practice adoption: A case study of Québec. Ecol Econ 70(7):1363–1374. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolecon.2011.02.012
Tanaka T, Camerer CF, Nguyen Q (2010) Risk and time preferences: Linking experimental and household survey data from Vietnam. Am Econ Rev 100(1):557–571. https://doi.org/10.1257/aer.100.1.557
Teklewold H, Kassie M, Shiferaw B, Köhlin G (2013) Cropping system diversification, conservation tillage and modern seed adoption in,hiopia: Impacts on household income, agrochemical use and demand for labor. Ecol Econ 93:85–93. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolecon.2013.05.002
Thierfelder C, Mwila M, Rusinamhodzi L (2013) Conservation agriculture in eastern and southern provinces of Zambia: Long-term effects on soil quality and maize productivity. Soil Tillage Res 126:246–258. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.still.2012.09.002
Tran-Nam Q, Tiet T (2022) The role of peer influence and norms in organic farming adoption: Accounting for farmers’ heterogeneity. J Environ Manag 320:115909. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2022.115909
Tversky A, Kahneman D (1992) Advances in prospect theory: Cumulative representation of uncertainty. J Risk Uncertain 5:27. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00122574
Vincent-Caboud L, Peigné J, Casagrande M, Silva E (2017) Overview of organic cover crop-based no-tillage technique in europe: farmers’ practices and research challenges. Agriculture 7(5). https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture7050042
Wade T, Claassen R (2017) Modeling no-till adoption by corn and soybean producers: Insights into sustained adoption. J Agric Appl Econ 49(2):186–210. https://doi.org/10.1017/aae.2016.48
Wall PC (2007) Tailoring conservation agriculture to the needs of small farmers in developing countries. J Crop Improvement 19(1-2):137–155. https://doi.org/10.1300/J411v19n01_07
Ward PS, Bell AR, Droppelmann K, Benton TG (2018) Early adoption of conservation agriculture practices: Understanding partial compliance in programs with multiple adoption decisions. Land Use Policy 70:27–37. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landusepol.2017.10.001
Yadav GS, Das A, Lal R, Babu S, Meena RS, Saha P, Datta M (2018) Energy budget and carbon footprint in a no-till and mulch based rice–mustard cropping system. J Clean Prod 191:144–157. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2018.04.173
Zeng D, Alwang J, Norton G, Jaleta M, Shiferaw B, Yirga C (2018) Land ownership and technology adoption revisited: Improved maize varieties in,hiopia. Land use policy 72:270–279. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landusepol.2017.12.047
Zhong H, Qing P, Hu W (2015) Farmers’ willingness to participate in best management practices in Kentucky. J Environ Plan Manag 59(6):1015–1039. https://doi.org/10.1080/09640568.2015.1052379
Zombre U (2019) Le secteur agricole au Québec : quelques grandes tendances à la lumière des quatre derniers recensements de l’agriculture, 27(28)
Funding
This work was supported by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada under the Strategic partnership Grant STPGP506291-17.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Ethics declarations
Conflict of interest
The authors declare no competing interests.
Appendix
Appendix
Correlation matrix
Variables | CIACA | σ | δ | λ | prendac | Priskac | agroenv | educc | educu | formagri | age | travail | logsup | flocation | fac |
CIACA | 1.000 | ||||||||||||||
σ | −0.140 | 1.000 | |||||||||||||
δ | 0.048 | 0.042 | 1.000 | ||||||||||||
λ | 0.110 | −0.197 | −0.106 | 1.000 | |||||||||||
prendac | 0.303 | −0.068 | −0.119 | −0.042 | 1.000 | ||||||||||
priskac | 0.103 | −0.103 | 0.052 | 0.263 | −0.334 | 1.000 | |||||||||
agroenv | 0.142 | −0.139 | 0.016 | −0.084 | 0.116 | −0.056 | 1.000 | ||||||||
educc | 0.042 | −0.038 | −0.008 | 0.105 | 0.360 | 0.108 | 0.127 | 1.000 | |||||||
educu | 0.073 | 0.005 | −0.101 | −0.139 | −0.255 | −0.093 | 0.059 | −0.510 | 1.000 | ||||||
formagri | 0.125 | −0.033 | −0.144 | 0.105 | 0.084 | 0.120 | 0.192 | 0.411 | 0.145 | 1.000 | |||||
age | 0.063 | −0.043 | 0.132 | 0.099 | −0.052 | 0.058 | 0.009 | −0.250 | 0.079 | −0.213 | 1.000 | ||||
travail | 0.082 | 0.010 | −0.117 | −0.077 | −0.094 | 0.161 | 0.124 | 0.004 | 0.252 | 0.271 | −0.177 | 1.000 | |||
logsup | 0.104 | 0.026 | 0.172 | 0.044 | 0.037 | 0.005 | −0.025 | 0.191 | −0.157 | −0.099 | −0.259 | −0.094 | 1.000 | ||
flocation | 0.084 | −0.032 | 0.091 | 0.049 | −0.159 | −0.106 | −0.146 | −0.069 | −0.112 | −0.109 | −0.071 | −0.033 | 0.448 | 1.000 | |
fac | 0.288 | 0.013 | 0.032 | 0.046 | 0.110 | −0.077 | −0.014 | −0.052 | −0.046 | −0.142 | 0.055 | −0.451 | 0.044 | 0.060 | 1.000 |
Rights and permissions
Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.
About this article
Cite this article
Takam Fongang, G.M., Leunga Noukwe, I., Guay, JF. et al. What Determines the Adoption of Conservation Agriculture? Evidence from Quebec. Environmental Management (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00267-024-02024-x
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00267-024-02024-x