Adoption behavior of green control techniques by family farms in China: Evidence from 676 family farms in Huang-huai-hai Plain

Technique adoption behavior by family farms comprises three stages with progressive relation, including information collection, adoption willingness, and adoption intensity. To explore the influence factors of the adoption of green control techniques (GCTs) by family farms, this study focused on sample selection problems, namely, understanding (or not) and willingness (or not), using bivariate probit and regression linear models based on a field survey data from 676 family farms in Huang-huai-hai Plain. Estimation results showed that: 1) the frequency of neighbor communication, the strengths of the extension of agricultural technique sector and media publicity, education, and degree of risk preference of farmers had significant positive influences on information collection individually; however, the gender of farmers had a significant negative influence. 2) The perceived ease of use and usefulness about the technique, the number of laborers, the strength of the extension of agricultural technique sector, education, and degree of risk preference of farmers had significant positive influences on adoption willingness. 3) Finally, the perceived ease of use and usefulness about the technique, fund status, the strengths of media publicity and the extension of agricultural technique sector, and education of farmers had significant positive influences on adoption intensity; whereas the frequency of neighbor communion, gender, and degree of risk preference of farmers had significant negative influences on adoption intensity. Thus, to develop the GCTs successfully, the Chinese government should improve the effects of technique training, ameliorate financing environment, focus on publicity and guidance, establish and improve the system of education and training for family farmers, and strengthen the team concerning the extended construction of grassroots technique. (C) 2017 Published by Elsevier Ltd.