Does the farmer’s social information network matter? Explaining adoption behavior for disaster risk 2 reduction measures using the theory of planned behavior
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Date
2022
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Theory of Planned Behavior
Abstract
Smallholder farmers’ vulnerability to climate-related disasters in Sub-Saharan Africa is increasing, partly due to
land-use changes and limited information about the adoption of farm-based Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR)
measures. Classical agricultural extension workers are increasingly less trusted because they tend to transfer
information not targeted to DRR, and rarely reach remote areas vulnerable to disasters. By extending the Theory of
Planned Behavior (TPB), this study assesses whether Social Information Networks (SIN) can shape farmers’
perspectives regarding the adoption of DRR measures. Cross-sectional data were collected from 602 randomly
selected households from Rwenzori and Ankole in Western Uganda, the sub-regions that are prone to landslides and
floods. Results from the structural equation modeling demonstrate TPB as a strong framework to explain adoption
behavior for DRR measures. Results show Perceived Behavioral Control (PBC) as a stronger driver of intentions
than subjective norm and attitudes. Intentions to apply DRR measures are significantly associated with actual
adoption. Farmers’ adoption behavior to control landslides and floods is directly correlated since the same location
might simultaneously be at risk of such interacting disasters. Furthermore, SIN significantly predicts adoption
intentions directly, and indirectly through PBC, subjective norm, and attitude. PBC and professional networks being
the main drivers of adoption intentions suggests that the role of extension services cannot be substituted by informal
social networks but the two should be complementary. Thus, the study shows the need to build the technical
capacity of extension staff and informal networks in DRR measures to train and transfer information to farmers.
Description
Keywords
Theory of planned behavior, Disaster risk reduction measures, Structural equation modeling, Adoption intention, Landslides, Floods
Citation
Mutyebere, R., Twongyirwe, R., Sekajugo, J., Kabaseke, C., Kagoro-Rugunda, G., Kervyn, M., & Vranken, L. (2022). Does the Farmer's Social Information Network Matter? Explaining Adoption Behavior for Disaster Risk Reduction Measures Using the Theory of Planned Behavior. Explaining Adoption Behavior for Disaster Risk Reduction Measures Using the Theory of Planned Behavior (September 27, 2022).