Drivers of adoption of soil health promoting practices among smallholders in the Gangetic Plains of West Bengal, India

Abstract

Healthy soils are the foundation for sustainable agriculture, and farmers’ perspectives are the key for adoption of appropriate technologies for upkeeping soil health. However, adoption is a complex process often guided by communication behaviour, psychological decisions and financial responsibilities of the individuals. The key objective of the study is to document the use of eleven selected soil health-promoting (SHP) practices in the area and to identify the factors influencing farmers’ adoption of the practices. Hooghly district of West Bengal, India was purposively selected for this study owing to its agricultural importance and declining soil health. The study adopted mixed sampling methods for selecting 200 farmers from four villages in the district, and analysed the database using univariate and multivariate statistical models. Overall 67.5% farmers had shown moderate adoption of the SHP practices, vermicompost application (15%), using legumes in cropping systems (26%) and bio-fertilizers application (31%) being the least adopted ones. The study revealed a shift of significant predictors (mass media use, innovativeness and scientific orientation) in multiple linear regression (MLR) to non-significant direct effects in path analysis, suggesting the influence on SHP practices is mediated through social participation and educational pathways. The study concludes to improve the adoption of SHP practices among the small and marginal farmers, the communication channels operating amongst them should be strengthened and peer group learning should be promoted. Interventions like development of farmers’ club may be useful in engaging farmers to exchange fruitful information.