Decision Support Systems adoption in pesticide management

Area of Science:

• Agricultural Economics
• Information Systems
• Technology Adoption

Background:

• Agricultural Decision Support Systems (DSS) offer potential benefits but face variable adoption rates.
• Understanding the drivers of adoption and willingness to pay (WTP) is crucial for effective technology dissemination.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the influence of behavioral, socioeconomic, and farm-specific characteristics on DSS adoption and WTP.
• To identify key factors influencing farmers' decision-making processes regarding DSS.

Main Methods:

• Survey data collection on factors influencing agricultural DSS adoption.
• Application of two structural equation models to analyze adoption and WTP determinants.
• Examination of farm size, crop type, farmer experience, and perceived benefits.

Main Results:

• Farm size significantly impacts both adoption and WTP; larger farms show higher adoption and WTP.
• Arable crop farmers exhibit lower WTP but higher adoption, especially on large scales; small-scale arable farmers show the reverse.
• Farmer experience, perceived productivity gains, ease of use, and pricing are critical factors influencing adoption and WTP.

Conclusions:

• Adoption strategies must be tailored, emphasizing productivity for large farms and addressing cost barriers for smaller ones.
• User-centric design and clear cost-benefit justifications are essential for enhancing DSS adoption.
• Recognizing the heterogeneity in farmer characteristics and farm operations is key to successful DSS implementation.