Visualising adoption processes through a stepwise framework: A case study of mechanisation on the Nepal Terai

Area of Science:

• Agricultural Science
• Development Studies
• Technology Adoption

Background:

• Agricultural mechanisation is a global trend, yet monitoring progress in the Global South remains challenging.
• Nepal's agricultural development agenda prioritizes mechanisation but has seen limited adoption rates compared to other South Asian nations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To establish a baseline understanding of agricultural mechanisation progress in Nepal's Terai region.
• To analyze the status of agricultural mechanisation beyond simple adoption rates and develop a framework for understanding adopter typologies.

Main Methods:

• Application of the non-binary 'Stepwise Process of Mechanisation' framework.
• Analysis of representative survey data from 1569 households across 14 districts in Nepal's Terai region.

Main Results:

• Significant exposure gaps persist across all machinery types, indicating current demonstration programs may be ineffective.
• Limited machinery ownership hinders the development of fee-for-hire services, a key barrier to sustained adoption.
• Lack of service providers is a primary constraint, despite substantial pools of potential adopters.

Conclusions:

• Current agricultural mechanisation efforts in Nepal have not significantly closed exposure gaps or fostered widespread machine ownership.
• Procurement-focused subsidy programs may be ineffective without addressing supply-side constraints, particularly the availability of service providers.
• Targeted interventions focusing on supply-side constraints and potential adopters can facilitate rapid rural mechanisation in Nepal's Terai.