Key determinants of farmers’ adoption of agroforestry in forested regions: insights from analysis of psychological factors

Abstract

Agroforestry represents a viable approach to enhancing the economic resilience of farmers, delivering ecological benefits, and mitigating pressure on forest ecosystems. Despite its recognized potential, the adoption of agroforestry practices among farmers remains limited. Consequently, understanding the determinants of farmers’ intentions to adopt agroforestry is essential to promote its widespread implementation. This study investigates the psychological factors influencing agroforestry adoption by surveying 361 farmers residing in forested regions. Anchored in the theory of planned behavior, the research framework incorporates additional variables, including organizational support and farmers’ perceptions of agroforestry’s economic advantages. The findings reveal that the basic model accounts for 53% of the variance in farmers’ intentions to adopt agroforestry, while the extended model, integrating the additional variables, increases the explanatory power to 70%. Critical determinants of farmers’ intentions include attitudes towards agroforestry, perceived behavioral control, and perceived economic benefits. Conversely, subjective norms and organizational support were not found to significantly influence intention. These findings underscore the importance of targeting influencing factors in the development of strategies to encourage agroforestry adoption. The results also emphasize the enabling role of organizational support in fostering the successful uptake of agroforestry practices. In light of these insights, it is recommended that initiatives focus on enhancing farmers’ positive perceptions, autonomy, and understanding of agroforestry’s benefits.