Technology adoption constraints and Laser Land Levelling: evidence from Karnataka, India

Climate-smart agriculture can address many of the challenges faced by agriculture in semi-arid areas. However, in many developing countries, the adoption and use of this kind of technology are still low. Knowledge constraints represent a critical barrier to adoption; hence, an effective extension system is key. In India, extension programs are characterized by partnerships involving the public sector, the private sector and NGOs. The latest approaches take advantage of mass media and video-based extension services. In this article, I assess the role of extension services on the adoption of laser land leveling among 604 households in the Indian state of Karnataka. Laser land leveling is a modern way of leveling fields using a laser machine; it also brings environmental, economic and social benefits. Using propensity score matching, I find that visiting the extension center Raita Samparka Kendra (RSK) or receiving visit from RSK officials at least once in a year increases the likelihood of using LLL. Furthermore, a causal mediation analysis reveals that after explaining the advantages of the technology and its cost, farmers develop a perception about the affordability of laser land leveling that mediates the treatment effects of the extension service on laser land leveling adoption. Another mechanism that mediates this relationship, even to a lesser extent, is the increase in farmers’ welfare, proxied by household expenditure.