The relative importance of factors influencing the adoption of sustainable agricultural practices: a factor approach for Malaysian vegetable farmers

This study develops the understanding of the adoption of sustainable agricultural practices (SAPs) by investigating the relative importance of a set of multidimensional factors in the Malaysian vegetable production sector. A factor approach is deployed to identify explanatory indicators within an in...

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Main Authors: Tey, Yeong Sheng, Li, Elton, Bruwer, Johan, Abdullah, Amin Mahir, Brindal, Mark Kennion, Radam, Alias, Ismail, Mohd Mansor, Darham, Suryani
Format: Article
Published: Springer 2014
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author Tey, Yeong Sheng
Li, Elton
Bruwer, Johan
Abdullah, Amin Mahir
Brindal, Mark Kennion
Radam, Alias
Ismail, Mohd Mansor
Darham, Suryani
author_facet Tey, Yeong Sheng
Li, Elton
Bruwer, Johan
Abdullah, Amin Mahir
Brindal, Mark Kennion
Radam, Alias
Ismail, Mohd Mansor
Darham, Suryani
author_sort Tey, Yeong Sheng
collection UPM
description This study develops the understanding of the adoption of sustainable agricultural practices (SAPs) by investigating the relative importance of a set of multidimensional factors in the Malaysian vegetable production sector. A factor approach is deployed to identify explanatory indicators within an integrative framework that is synthesized from the theory of interpersonal behavior and the theory of diffusion of innovation. We achieved this by analyzing a logistic regression model for the adoption of six individual SAPs (conservation tillage, intercropping, cover crops/mulches, crop rotation, organic fertilizers/composts, and integrated pest management). The findings indicate that adoption depends on a range of socio-economic, agro-ecological, institutional, informational, and psychological factors, as well as the perceived attributes of SAPs. Fundamental policy understanding of the issue should, therefore, be multidisciplinary. In addition, standardized coefficients reveal that the impact of statistically significant factors on adoption is unequal. In general, the most influential factor is the asymmetric distribution of resources across geographical locations. This is followed by financial capital and a number of factors, including the workforce size, the usefulness of information, Chinese ethnicity, and the perceived relative advantage of SAPs. Guided by this prioritization understanding, future SAPs promotion now has a better opportunity to target the more important areas. Similar research effort should be made to steer sustainable agriculture internationally.
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spelling upm.eprints-358012016-02-10T06:18:20Z http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/35801/ The relative importance of factors influencing the adoption of sustainable agricultural practices: a factor approach for Malaysian vegetable farmers Tey, Yeong Sheng Li, Elton Bruwer, Johan Abdullah, Amin Mahir Brindal, Mark Kennion Radam, Alias Ismail, Mohd Mansor Darham, Suryani This study develops the understanding of the adoption of sustainable agricultural practices (SAPs) by investigating the relative importance of a set of multidimensional factors in the Malaysian vegetable production sector. A factor approach is deployed to identify explanatory indicators within an integrative framework that is synthesized from the theory of interpersonal behavior and the theory of diffusion of innovation. We achieved this by analyzing a logistic regression model for the adoption of six individual SAPs (conservation tillage, intercropping, cover crops/mulches, crop rotation, organic fertilizers/composts, and integrated pest management). The findings indicate that adoption depends on a range of socio-economic, agro-ecological, institutional, informational, and psychological factors, as well as the perceived attributes of SAPs. Fundamental policy understanding of the issue should, therefore, be multidisciplinary. In addition, standardized coefficients reveal that the impact of statistically significant factors on adoption is unequal. In general, the most influential factor is the asymmetric distribution of resources across geographical locations. This is followed by financial capital and a number of factors, including the workforce size, the usefulness of information, Chinese ethnicity, and the perceived relative advantage of SAPs. Guided by this prioritization understanding, future SAPs promotion now has a better opportunity to target the more important areas. Similar research effort should be made to steer sustainable agriculture internationally. Springer 2014 Article PeerReviewed Tey, Yeong Sheng and Li, Elton and Bruwer, Johan and Abdullah, Amin Mahir and Brindal, Mark Kennion and Radam, Alias and Ismail, Mohd Mansor and Darham, Suryani (2014) The relative importance of factors influencing the adoption of sustainable agricultural practices: a factor approach for Malaysian vegetable farmers. Sustainability Science, 9 (1). pp. 17-29. ISSN 1862-4065; ESSN: 1862-4057 http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs11625-013-0219-3 10.1007/s11625-013-0219-3
spellingShingle Tey, Yeong Sheng
Li, Elton
Bruwer, Johan
Abdullah, Amin Mahir
Brindal, Mark Kennion
Radam, Alias
Ismail, Mohd Mansor
Darham, Suryani
The relative importance of factors influencing the adoption of sustainable agricultural practices: a factor approach for Malaysian vegetable farmers
title The relative importance of factors influencing the adoption of sustainable agricultural practices: a factor approach for Malaysian vegetable farmers
title_full The relative importance of factors influencing the adoption of sustainable agricultural practices: a factor approach for Malaysian vegetable farmers
title_fullStr The relative importance of factors influencing the adoption of sustainable agricultural practices: a factor approach for Malaysian vegetable farmers
title_full_unstemmed The relative importance of factors influencing the adoption of sustainable agricultural practices: a factor approach for Malaysian vegetable farmers
title_short The relative importance of factors influencing the adoption of sustainable agricultural practices: a factor approach for Malaysian vegetable farmers
title_sort relative importance of factors influencing the adoption of sustainable agricultural practices a factor approach for malaysian vegetable farmers
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