Nexus between Awareness, Perception and Adoption of Recommended Technologies: Evidences from Smallholder Rubber Cultivation

The adoption of recommended practices in agriculture boosts production and thereby increases farmer income. It ensures that scarce resources are optimally utilized. Awareness and perception of recommendations are precursors to adoption in the rubber smallholder sector. This research tested the causal links between awareness, perception and adoption. Data were collected using a pretested questionnaire covering four rubber growing districts. Three indices were developed for awareness, perception and adoption. Three behavioral equations were developed to estimate the relationship between awareness, perception and adoption and they were simultaneously estimated using a three stage least square technique. Results revealed that awareness of recommendations significantly influences perception and the perception in turn significantly influences adoption and therefore, the link between these was clear. The role of extension effort is significant in creating awareness while peer effect and human capital significantly assist in formation of favorable perception on technologies.