A duration analysis of on-farm agrobiodiversity conservation: evidence from portuguese fruit growers

Abstract

We investigate the factors that influence farmers’ adoption of agrobiodiversity measures using survey data collected at a geographically relevant scale. The current economic theory of technology adoption is used to guide our thinking. While, to date, studies in this area have frequently employed standard probit/logit techniques, we adopt an econometric technique that addresses simultaneously the issue of sample censoring, temporal dependence and the joint determination of the occurrence and timing of adoptions. The use of more appropriate techniques to the analysis of adoption data uncover a sizably higher effect of information on farmers’ decisions than that obtained by standard discrete-choice approaches. The result is an affirmation that good extension services providing reliable and accessible information, as well as technical guidance adapted to local conditions, are fundamental components to effect the adoption of resource-conserving measures.