Understanding the Drivers of Egyptian Farmers’ Intention to Adopt Biodegradable Plastic Mulch: A Structural Equation Modeling Approach

The biodegradable plastic mulch (BDM) was advanced as a promising alternative to address the environmental and management issues associated with conventional polyethylene mulch. However, its uptake remains low, and empirical evidence on the sociopsychological drivers of BDM adoption among farmers in Egypt is limited. This study incorporates an extended theory of planned behavior (TPB) to predict farmers’ intention to adopt BDM. Three hundred and sixty farmers were selected in three governorates using a multistage sampling technique. Data analysis involved using partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM). The findings indicated that the extended TPB model accounted for 51% of the total variation in predictive power. Three variables, including subjective norms, perceived behavioral control, and perceived self-identity, positively affected farmers’ intentions to adopt BDM, with the influence of attitudes being not statistically significant. The most critical barriers to adopting BDM from farmers’ perspectives encompassed limited local availability (71%), limited knowledge (56%), elevated cost (46%), field durability (39%), and limited use among other farmers (34%). These findings underscore the importance of broadening the focus beyond the technical benefits of BDM to urge and accelerate adoption. Accordingly, policymakers should focus on reducing adoption barriers and emphasize sociopsychological factors more through well-designed interventions to promote the adoption of BDM in agriculture.