Adoption and willingness to pay for the push-pull technology among smallholder maize farmers in Rwanda

Abstract

The adoption and willingness to pay for a new technology by farmers is a sign of confidence on its effective
performance and a motivation for the researchers and extension agents. This study comprised an assessment
of the factors that influence the adoption and willingness to adopt and pay for push-pull technology (PPT) at
over a 10% premium price by smallholder maize growers in selected districts of Rwanda. The survey was
conducted in multiple villages of Nyagatare and Gatsibo districts in the Eastern province during the last
quarter of 2018 on a sample of 587 farmers. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and the logit
model. The results showed that farmers with better education levels and adequate land, and the ability to use
yield-enhancing inputs e.g. DAP were more likely to adopt PPT. The study shows that household heads with
spouses who belong to farmer groups or receive extension support for crop production were likely to adopt
PPT. With regard to willingness to pay for PPT, the study finds that farmers who were resource constrained,
for instance those needing credit for crop production and living relatively far away from input stockists, were
less likely to pay for PPT. Whereas, farmers with livestock or who were receiving extension support for crop
production were more likely to pay for PPT. The study concludes that farmers’ decisions to adopt and pay for
PPT depend on their socio-economic circumstances and performance of the technology.