Motivational Factors on the Adoption of Natural Farming Technology
A study was conducted to determine the factors that would make farmers adopt or reject natural farming technology. Farmers and scientists attach different meanings to natural farming technology, however, in this study it refers to the preparation and use of fermented tissues of plants and animals as natural fertilizers or control agents for crop pests and diseases. Results of several experiments on the use of the technology conducted with rice and some vegetable crops by LSPU faculty and student researchers showed yields comparable with yields of chemically fertilized crops. Therefore, the College of Agriculture of the university included this technology in its extension programs since 2009. However, despite the series of seminars and demonstrations with farmers, adoption rate is still low. Seventy two lowland rice farmers, who had attended seminars, in three municipalities in the agricultural zone of Laguna Province served as respondents. Data on their demographic and farming characteristics, extension exposure and perception on the characteristics of natural farming technology were collected and analyzed.Results showed that the adoption of natural farming technology had significant relationship with farmers' characteristics such as organizational affiliation, income and farm size; extension variables such as visits by extension workers, credibility of the extension agents, availability of reading materials, and continuity of receiving information about the technology; and perception about the characteristics of the technology such as relative advantage, simplicity and compatibility with their present condition and resources. These are the variables that should be considered in designing the transfer of natural farming technology to farmers.