Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

What happens between technico-institutional support and adoption of organic farming? A case study from Benin

  • Published:
Organic Agriculture Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Current debate about organic farming emphasizes on the sustainability of farming systems, rural livelihood, and food quality on the technical and economic factors influencing the conversion to organic farming. The paper aims at describing the psychosocial adoption factors associated with institutional and technical support systems set up for the promotion of organic farming, based on a case study in Benin. We carried out this study in Djidja District in South Benin. We conducted semi-structured interviews with two leaders and five agricultural advisers from the Benin Organisation for Promoting Organic Agriculture and structured interviews with 100 farmers selected randomly among 255 organic farmers, 50 non-adopters to record why they did not adopt organic farming, and 25 farmers who reverted to conventional farming to understand their rationales. We used descriptive statistics and correlation for quantitative data analysis and discourse analysis for qualitative data analysis. We found that important factors that affected the adoption of organic farming were their perceptions of the characteristics of the technology, the economic factors, the institutional support for socio-technical learning networks, and the credit gained by the nongovernmental organization promoting organic farming. Farmers' needs for technical competence, social relatedness, and farm income safety acted as psychosocial mediators between the technical and institutional supports and their motivation to convert to organic farming. Alongside their technical abilities, the capacity of agricultural advisers to cope with psychosocial factors associated with the institutional support systems appears to be crucial in motivating farmers to adopt innovation.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Alderfer CP (1969) An empirical test of a new theory of human needs. Organ Behav Hum Perform 4(2):142–175

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bengtsson J, Ahnström J, Weibull A-C (2005) The effects of organic agriculture on biodiversity and abundance: a meta-analysis. J Appl Ecol 42:261–269

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Blais MR, Lachance L, Vallerand RJ, Brière NM, Riddle A (1993) Échelle de Motivation au Travail (ÉMT-31). Rev Québ de Psychol 14(3):185–215

    Google Scholar 

  • Bolwig S, Gibbon P, Jone S (2009) The economics of smallholder organic contract farming in tropical Africa. World Dev 37(6):1094–1104

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bruckmeier K, Grund H, Symes D, Jansen AJ (1994) Perspectives for environmentally sound agriculture in East Germany: agricultural restructuring and rural change in Europe. Wageningen Sociologische Studies 37:180–194

    Google Scholar 

  • Burton M, Rigby D, Young T (1999) Analysis of the determinants of adoption of organic horticultural techniques in the UK. J Agric Econ 50(1):47–63

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chouichom S, Yamao M (2010) Comparing opinions and attitudes of organic and non-organic farmers towards organic rice farming system in North-Eastern Thailand. J Org Syst 5(1):25–35

    Google Scholar 

  • Cochet H. Etat des savoirs sur les mondes ruraux africains. Etudes Africaines/état des lieux et des savoirs en France. 1re Rencontre du Réseau des études africaines en France, 29–30 Novembre et 1er Décembre 2006, Paris; 2006

  • Conacher A, Conacher A. Organic farming in Australia. Geowest 18. The Department of Geography, University of Western Australia, Nedlands; 1982

  • Crucefix D. Organic agriculture and sustainable rural livelihoods in developing countries. Natural Resources and Ethical Trade Programme, UK; 1998

  • Darnhofer I, Schneeberger W, Freyer B (2005) Converting or not converting to organic farming in Austria: farmer types and their rationale. Agric Hum Values 22:39–52

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Deci EL, Ryan RM (1985) Intrinsic motivation and self-determination in human behavior. Plenum, New York

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Dima SJ, Odero AN (1997) Organic farming for sustainable agricultural production: a brief theoretical review and preliminary empirical evidence. Environ Resour Econ 10:177–188

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cranfield J, Henson S, Holliday J (2010) The motives, benefits, and problems of conversion to organic production. Agric Hum Values 27:291–306

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dubgaard A, Sorensen SN. Organic and biodynamic farming in Denmark: a statistical survey. Rapport, Statens-Jordbrugsokonomiske Institut 43, Denmark; 1988

  • Fairweather JR (1999) Understanding how farmers choose between organic and conventional production: results from New Zealand and policy implications. Agric and Hum Values 16:51–63

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ferrigno S, Ratter SG, Ton P, Vodouhe DS, Williamson S, Wilson J. Organic cotton: a new development path for African smallholders? The Gatekeeper Series 120. International Institute for Environment and Development, London; 2005

  • Fisher P. Barriers to the adoption of organic farming in Canterbury. M. Appl. Sci. Thesis, Centre for Resource Management, Lincoln College; 1989

  • Glin LC, Mol APJ, Oosterveer P, Vodouhe DS (2012) Governing the transnational organic cotton network from Benin. Global Networks 12(3):333–354

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Guay F, Boggiano AK, Vallerand RJ (2001) Autonomy support, intrinsic motivation, and perceived competence: conceptual and empirical linkages. Personal Soc Psychol Bull 27(6):643–650

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Herzfeld T, Jongeneel R (2011) Why do farmers behave as they do? Understanding compliance with rural, agricultural, and food attribute standards. Land Use Policy 29:250–260

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Heaton S (2001) Organic farming, food quality and human health: a review of the evidence. Soil Association, Bristol

    Google Scholar 

  • Hole DG, Perkins AJ, Wilson JD, Alexander IH, Grice PV, Evans AD (2005) Does organic farming benefit biodiversity? Biol Conserv 122(1):113–130

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hong CW. Organic farming and the sustainability of agriculture in Korea. Extension-Bulletin 388, ASPAC, Food and Fertilizer Technology Center; 1994

  • Kallas Z, Serra T, Gil JM (2010) Farmers' objectives as determinants of organic farming adoption: the case of Catalonian vineyard production. Agric Econ 41:409–423

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kvist M (1994) Evaluation of the grant to organic production. Jordbruksekonomiska Meddelanden 56(12):1302–1322

    Google Scholar 

  • Losier GF, Vallerand RJ, Blais MR (1993) Construction et validation de l'Échelle des Perceptions de Compétence dans les Domaines de Vie (EPCDV). Sci et comport 23:1–16

    Google Scholar 

  • Ministère de l’Agriculture de l’levage et de la Pêche (2010) Plan stratégique de relance du secteur agricole (PSRSA). Version Finale, Cotonou

    Google Scholar 

  • Maslow A (1943) A theory of human motivation. Psychol Rev 50(4):370–396

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McClelland DC (1961) The achieving society. Van Nostrand Reinhold, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Molder PJ, Negrave PD, Schoney RA (1991) Descriptive analysis of Saskatchewan organic producers. Can J Agric Econ 394(2):891–899

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Negatu W, Parikh A (1999) The impact of perception and other factors on the adoption of agricultural technology in the Moret and Jiru Woreda (district) of Ethiopia. Agric Econ 21:205–216

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • OBEPAB. Rapport sur les accidents causés par les pesticides chimiques de synthèse utilisés dans la production cotonnière au Bénin. Cotonou; 2001

  • OBEPAB (2002) Le Coton au Bénin: Rapport de consultation sur le coton conventionnel et le coton biologique au Bénin, Rapport du Projet Pesticides Poverty and. Livelihoods PAN, UK

    Google Scholar 

  • Olivier de Sardan J-P (1995) Anthropologie et développement, essai en socio-anthropologie du changement social. Karthala, Paris

    Google Scholar 

  • Padel S (2001) Conversion to organic farming: a typical example of the diffusion of an innovation? Sociol Rural 41(1):40–61

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Richer S, Vallerand RJ. Construction et validation de l'Échelle du sentiment d'appartenance sociale en milieu de travail. Communication présentée lors du congrès annuel de la SQRP, Ottawa, ON, 27–29 Octobre; 1995

  • Rigby D, Cáceres D (2001) Organic farming and the sustainability of agricultural systems. Agric Syst 68(1):21–40

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Roussel P. La motivation au travail—Concept et théories. LIRHE Note no. 326. LIRHE, Toulouse; 2000

  • Sarker A, Itohara Y (2008) Factors influencing the extent of practice of organic farming technologies: a case study of Tangail district in Bangladesh. Am J Agric Biol Sci 3(3):584–590

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sinzogan, A. Facilitating learning toward sustainable cotton pest management in Benin: the interactive design of research for development. Ph.D. dissertation, Wageningen University; 2006

  • Svensson I. Governmental subsidy to organic farming 1989. A mail inquiry. Alternativ-Odling No. 7; 1991

  • Ton P, Tovignan S, Vodouhe S. Endosulfan deaths and poisonings in Benin. Pesticide News 47; 2000

  • Tovignan, DS. Gender perspectives in the adoption of organic cotton in Benin: a farm household modelling approach. PhD Dissertation, University of Giessen, Germany; 2005

  • Vanclay F (2004) Social principles for agricultural extension to assist in the promotion of natural resource management. Aust J Exp Agric 44(3):213–222

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vodouhe S. Le coton biologique, une chance à saisir pour l’Afrique pour un développement plus harmonieux. Abomey-Calavi; 1997

  • Willer H, Gillmor DA (1992) Organic agriculture in the Republic of Ireland. Ir Geogr 25(2):149–159

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

We would like to thank the International Foundation for Science (IFS) for financing this study.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Agriculture, University of Parakou, BP: 123, Parakou, Benin

    Ismail Moumouni, Mohamed N. Baco, Silvère Tovignan, Florent Gbèdo & Guy S. Nouatin

  2. Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, University of Abomey-Calavi, BP: 526, Cotonou, Benin

    Simplice D. Vodouhê

  3. Faculty of Organic Agriculture, University of Kassel, Steinstrasse 19, 37213, Witzenhausen, Germany

    Ismail Moumouni & Ulf Liebe

Authors
  1. Ismail Moumouni
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Mohamed N. Baco
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Silvère Tovignan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Florent Gbèdo
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Guy S. Nouatin
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Simplice D. Vodouhê
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Ulf Liebe
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ismail Moumouni.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Moumouni, I., Baco, M.N., Tovignan, S. et al. What happens between technico-institutional support and adoption of organic farming? A case study from Benin. Org. Agr. 3, 1–8 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13165-013-0039-x

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13165-013-0039-x

Keywords

Search

Navigation