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Adoption of water conservation practices: A socioeconomic analysis of small-scale farmers in Central Chile

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  • Jara-Rojas, Roberto
  • Bravo-Ureta, Boris E.
  • Díaz, José

Abstract

The agricultural sector accounts roughly for 63% of total annual water utilization worldwide and in developing countries the figure is much higher, with 90% of water use attributable to agriculture. Irrigation plays a crucial role in agricultural production efficiency, risk reduction, food security, and poverty alleviation. Recently, there has been growing concern over climate change and the associated uncertainty with respect to future water scarcity both globally and locally. Therefore, efficient management of water at the farm level is critical to the future sustainability of worldwide and regional agriculture. The objective of this paper is to determine the factors that contribute to the adoption of a number of water conservation practices by small-scale farmers in Central Chile. A survey conducted between October and December of 2005 was designed and implemented in order to determine the socioeconomic and production characteristics for 319 farmers in 32 watersheds. The number of water conservation practices implemented by farmers was examined using a Poisson count data model, and the types of practices were evaluated using Logit and Multinomial Logit models. The results of the econometric analysis show that social capital, farm size and land use play a key role in the adoption of management practices and in generating greater efficiency in water used for irrigation.

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  • Jara-Rojas, Roberto & Bravo-Ureta, Boris E. & Díaz, José, 2012. "Adoption of water conservation practices: A socioeconomic analysis of small-scale farmers in Central Chile," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 110(C), pages 54-62.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:agisys:v:110:y:2012:i:c:p:54-62
    DOI: 10.1016/j.agsy.2012.03.008
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    Cited by:

    1. Micheels, Eric T. & Nolan, James F., 2016. "Examining the effects of absorptive capacity and social capital on the adoption of agricultural innovations: A Canadian Prairie case study," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 145(C), pages 127-138.
    2. repec:eee:agisys:v:153:y:2017:i:c:p:221-231 is not listed on IDEAS
    3. Daniel Kyalo Willy & Arnim Kuhn, 2016. "Technology Adoption Under Variable Weather Conditions — The Case of Rain Water Harvesting in Lake Naivasha Basin, Kenya," Water Economics and Policy (WEP), World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd., vol. 2(02), pages 1-25, June.
    4. Yu, Qiangyi & Wu, Wenbin & Verburg, Peter H. & van Vliet, Jasper & Yang, Peng & Zhou, Qingbo & Tang, Huajun, 2013. "A survey-based exploration of land-system dynamics in an agricultural region of Northeast China," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 121(C), pages 106-116.
    5. Sulemana, Iddisah & James, Harvey S., 2014. "Farmer identity, ethical attitudes and environmental practices," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 98(C), pages 49-61.
    6. Wakeyo, Mekonnen B. & Gardebroek, Cornelis, 2013. "Does water harvesting induce fertilizer use among smallholders? Evidence from Ethiopia," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 114(C), pages 54-63.
    7. Galioto, Francesco & Cuming, David & Raggi, Meri & Viaggi, Davide, 2015. "Drivers and Barriers Over the Adoption of Precision Irrigation in Europe," 2015 Fourth Congress, June 11-12, 2015, Ancona, Italy 207846, Italian Association of Agricultural and Applied Economics (AIEAA).
    8. Aguilar-Gallegos, Norman & Muñoz-Rodríguez, Manrrubio & Santoyo-Cortés, Horacio & Aguilar-Ávila, Jorge & Klerkx, Laurens, 2015. "Information networks that generate economic value: A study on clusters of adopters of new or improved technologies and practices among oil palm growers in Mexico," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 135(C), pages 122-132.
    9. Kimmich, Christian, 2013. "Linking action situations: Coordination, conflicts, and evolution in electricity provision for irrigation in Andhra Pradesh, India," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 90(C), pages 150-158.

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