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Agroforestry adoption as a systems concept: A review

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  • Amare, Dagninet
  • Darr, Dietrich

Abstract

Adoption of innovations is central to improved livelihoods of smallholders and agricultural modernization. The means of achieving optimum adoption rates, however, remain blurred amidst decades of research and interventions. This paper employed both content and meta-analysis to summarize the theoretical and empirical studies conducted in the past three decades in agroforestry (AF) adoption practice and research. Literature from innovation, social networks, diffusion, and adoption of innovations streams of research are explored to analyze the main outputs of adoption studies. Positive critique is presented to advance the comprehension of AF adoption decision contexts and improve the effectiveness of interventions. Econometric models employed more than 151 variables to examine AF adoption and information diffusion. Qualitative and descriptive analysis explored further perspectives (e.g., innovation characteristics) complementing the focus on socioeconomic variables in econometric models. The innovation systems concept provided a broader menu of investigation by conceptually integrating a wide diversity of actors and activities thereby increasing our understanding of how such innovations are produced, transferred and adopted across communities, locations and time.

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  • Amare, Dagninet & Darr, Dietrich, 2020. "Agroforestry adoption as a systems concept: A review," Forest Policy and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 120(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:forpol:v:120:y:2020:i:c:s1389934120304615
    DOI: 10.1016/j.forpol.2020.102299
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    2. Ndlovu, Nicholas P. & Nzuma, Tendai M., 2024. "The implementation of agroforestry in Namibia: A street-level bureaucracy perspective," Forest Policy and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 168(C).
    3. Brian Flanagan & Amy Boren-Alpizar & Gary Wingenbach & David Lawver & Robert Strong, 2023. "Evaluating Agroforestry Extension Workers’ Technical and Human Relation Competencies: A Ranked Discrepancy Model Needs Assessment," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(19), pages 1-15, September.
    4. Amare, Dagninet & Darr, Dietrich, 2023. "Can a sequential analysis provide a more robust understanding of farmers' adoption decisions? An example from an agroforestry adoption study in Ethiopia," Forest Policy and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 153(C).
    5. Durrant, Eleanor & Howson, Pete & Sallu, Susannah M. & Shirima, Deo D. & Lala, Margherita & Milheiras, Sergio G. & Lyimo, Francis & Nyiti, Petro P. & Mwanga, Lilian & Kioko, Esther & Pfeifer, Marion, 2025. "Understanding farmers' attitudes and aspirations for tree-cover restoration in the Kilombero Valley, Tanzania," Forest Policy and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 172(C).
    6. Zabala, Aiora & Barrios, Luis Enrique García & Pascual, Unai, 2022. "From participation to commitment in silvopastoral programmes: Insights from Chiapas, Mexico," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 200(C).
    7. Julia Ihli, Hanna & Chiputwa, Brian & Winter, Etti & Gassner, Anja, 2022. "Risk and time preferences for participating in forest landscape restoration: The case of coffee farmers in Uganda," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 150(C).
    8. Müting, Luisa & Mußhoff, Oliver, 2025. "Money doesn't grow on trees – Or does it? How agroforestry system design makes agroforestry more attractive to smallholders in Senegal," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 224(C).
    9. Dmuchowski, Wojciech & Baczewska-Dąbrowska, Aneta H. & Gworek, Barbara, 2024. "The role of temperate agroforestry in mitigating climate change: A review," Forest Policy and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 159(C).
    10. Zabala, Aiora & Pascual, Unai & García-Barrios, Luis Enrique & Mukherjee, Nibedita, 2025. "Drivers to adopt agroforestry and sustainable land-use innovations: A review and framework for policy," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 151(C).
    11. Shahzad Ahmad & Haiping Xu & E. M. B. P. Ekanayake, 2023. "Socioeconomic Determinants and Perceptions of Smallholder Farmers towards Agroforestry Adoption in Northern Irrigated Plain, Pakistan," Land, MDPI, vol. 12(4), pages 1-25, April.

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