Unraveling social-ecological constraints to the adoption of CMD-resistant cassava varieties in Thailand

Abstract

Cassava Mosaic Disease (CMD) presents a critical challenge to cassava production in Thailand, leading to substantial yield reductions and threatening the livelihoods of smallholder farmers. Despite the availability and documented agronomic benefits of CMD-resistant cassava varieties, their adoption remains limited. This study employs the Social-Ecological Adoption Framework (SEAF) to systematically examine the social-ecological factors influencing adoption decisions among 359 farmers in Chaiyaphum Province. Using binary logistic regression analysis, the results, significant at the 0.05 level, indicate that household income, production costs, farmers’ knowledge of CMD, access to soft loans, and peer influence are key factors shaping adoption behavior. These findings highlight the necessity for integrated financial, educational, and institutional interventions to enhance the uptake of CMD-resistant varieties, fostering more sustainable cassava production systems in Thailand.