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Is the Willingness to Take Risks a Credential for Being a Model Farmer?

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  • Toritseju Begho

    (Toritseju Begho is a Research Associate at Scotland’s Rural College, Edinburgh, Scotland.)

Abstract

Despite the significant role of model or demonstrator farmers in disseminating new technologies, systematic and empirical examination of the behavioural characteristics that distinguish demonstrator farmers from other farmers is lacking. Understanding the characteristics of demonstrator farmers is as important as the characteristics of the technology or practice being demonstrated in model farms. Thus, this article examines whether attitudes to risks distinguish demonstrators from non-demonstrator farmers. The results show that a larger proportion of demonstrator farmers will take risks as compared to non-demonstrators. The results also indicate that being less risk-averse increases the chances of being a demonstrator farmer. The implication is that while demonstrators tolerate the risks that accompany adopting technologies, the reverse could be the case for non-demonstrator farmers. Crucially, this finding will inform the decision-making of extension agents when choosing demonstrator farmers. This article will also serve as evidence for future programmes not to rely wholly on demonstrator farmers as the decisively indicative test of farmers’ overall risk attitude. JEL Codes: D81, C9, Q12

Suggested Citation

  • Toritseju Begho, 2022. "Is the Willingness to Take Risks a Credential for Being a Model Farmer?," Margin: The Journal of Applied Economic Research, National Council of Applied Economic Research, vol. 16(3-4), pages 433-452, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:mareco:v:16:y:2022:i:3-4:p:433-452
    DOI: 10.1177/09738010231158180
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • D81 - Microeconomics - - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty - - - Criteria for Decision-Making under Risk and Uncertainty
    • C9 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Design of Experiments
    • Q12 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Agriculture - - - Micro Analysis of Farm Firms, Farm Households, and Farm Input Markets

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