2.3 Theoretical Framework Underpinning the Study
2.3.2 The Applicability of DOI Model
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and variability. Hence, this study, among other issues, attempts to ascertain farmers’
knowledge on climate change and variability.
It is hence anticipated that when farmers have access to information and adapt to new agricultural practices, there is a higher chance that food productivity will increase at the level of households and nationally will enhance food security. However, the fight against food insecurity cannot be achieved without reflecting on climate change and variability as a serious threat to agricultural production. The above explanations show a mutual relationship between agricultural crop production and climate change and variability. For farmers to cope, adapt and mitigate the adverse impacts of climate change and variability, they need to have adaptation information and knowledge in agricultural production. Lack of timely access to information impedes farmers’ ability to make decision such as what to plant, where to plant, in which season and how to ensure food is preserved. It also affects farmers utilising opportunities arising due to climate variability, access to markets, coping knowledge to engage in other economic activities and so on. Based on the arguments above, it is the National Adaptation Programme of Action (NAPA) which aspires to imparting knowledge on best practices concerning adapting to climate change and variability to citizens in the country.
Farmers will fail to adopt and practise new knowledge if the information disseminated does not reach the targeted farmers on time. Therefore this study intends to investigate how the information on adaptation to climate change and variability is packaged and disseminated to farmers within the agricultural sector in Tanzania.
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huge role in adoption, as it was observed that sugar beet trial farmers were more aware and possessed more knowledge of sugar beet than non-sugar beet trial farmers. The findings of the study are narrated in relation to the DOI theoretical framework attributes, such as attitude to change, relative advantage, trialability, knowledge and communication channels and channels involved in disseminating information on innovations.
The study by Masangano and Miles (2004) in Malawi assessed factors influencing farmers’
adoption of the Kalima bean variety. The study employed a structured interview schedule and focus group discussions in collecting data from farmers. Key findings showed that limited access to seed, inadequate information, literacy levels, knowledge, attitudes and gender were factors influencing the adoption of the Kalima bean variety by farmers. Nevertheless, the study observed that education level, land size ownership and income were not determining factors for adoption. Additionally, it was found that for sustainable applicability of an innovation disseminated to farmers, it should be less complex, sensible when compared to what they know (relative advantage) and easy for farmers with low literacy levels to utilise.
The study observed that, for farmers to adapt to the innovations, researchers should closely collaborate with farmers and extension officers to identify farmers’ priorities and constrains.
The authors also learned there was inadequate information disseminated to farmers. The study thus identified effective information dissemination and exchange sources for agricultural innovation to be workshops and meetings, farmer training, on-farm research and field visits. The research findings stress the role of Diffusion of Innovations attributes such as relative advantage, knowledge, attitude towards an innovation, complexity and social system norms in adoption.
A study by Gundu (2009) in Zimbabwe assessed the effect of literacy on access to, and utilisation of, agricultural information for household security. The study used interviews, focus group discussions, non-participant observation and documentary review to collect data.
The study applied the DOI framework and, among other findings in Zimbabwe, established that literacy levels impeded rural women’s access to and use of agricultural information.
Thus, the low literacy status of women farmers in Zimbabwe contributed to failure to access information on credit, extension services, food insecurity, participation in agricultural training, post harvesting, managing agricultural produce and active participation in economic activities. The study revealed that farmers lacked information on farming methods, pest and
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disease control, marketing and pricing, farm security and livestock management and innovative knowledge to assist them in diversifying to other economic activities.
The study observed that informal information sources and channels and social networks were mostly relied upon by farmers with low education levels, due to ease of access and the low cost of the search for information. The low level usage of formal information sources such as radio was attributed to the failure of the source to address the farmers’ need. The study learned that print sources were least used and university researchers, non-governmental organisations, churches and other private companies were involved in disseminating information to farmers. The findings described resonate well in the DOI model, through its attributes such as knowledge, persuasion and dissemination and access of information through communication sources and channels, innovation complexity and perceived need for an innovation. These described findings reflect the DOI attributes such as inadequate information dissemination and access have resulted in a negative attitude towards innovations and their being viewed as complex. As a consequence, low usage of agricultural information has led to poor participation in socio-economic activities due to inadequate knowledge on best agricultural practices.
In the United States of America (USA) Baide (2005) explored the barriers to adoption of sustainable agriculture practices (SAP) in the Southern States. The study collected data through a semi-structured questionnaire from respondents’ (change agents) emails. It was revealed that change agents involved in promoting awareness on sustainable agricultural practices among farmers were not delivering services adequately. The main reason observed was lack of sufficient knowledge and lack of receptivity by change agents on SAP. The study revealed that the barriers to adoption of SAP were complex sustainable agricultural practices which farmers could not understand and utilise. Other barriers included economic factors such as risk and uncertainty about adopting sustainable practices, cost of transitioning and delay of benefits for many sustainable practices. The study discovered that inadequate information and education on sustainable agricultural practices concerning innovations was an impediment to farmers’ adoption. It was concluded that information sources were not effective in accumulating, organising and disseminating relevant information to farmers.
Baide’s (2005) study learned that farmers were not adapting to SAP, as they were reluctant to change to new practices and abandon their farming cultures, norms and traditions.
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Incompatibility of sustainable agricultural practices with the available known management strategies was also an obstacle to adoption due to additional operations such as labour being required. The study noted that social factors such as misleading perceptions and beliefs, personal characteristics such as age, adhering to old farming practices, as well as lack of an observable example showing the benefits of SAP were seen as influential factors in adoption.
Last but not least, the study highlighted land tenure and lack of infrastructure such as farm inputs, equipment and market and financial institutions as factors determining farmers’
adoption of sustainable agriculture practices. The findings hinge on DOI theoretical framework attributes such as perceived attitudes to an innovation, attitude to change, knowledge, awareness, communication sources, communication channels, relative advantage, complexity, observability, social system norms and compatibility.
The research questions of the present study covered issues such as types of information on climate change and variability disseminated to farmers, information packaging and dissemination, farmers knowledge of adaptation, access and use of information on climate change and variability, attitudes and perceptions of farmers towards climate change and variability and factors affecting access to, and use of, information on adaptation to climate change and variability.