Factors Affecting Adoption Rate of Agro Forestry Technologies in Tamil Nadu

This paper has determined the factors affecting the adoption of agro-forestry technologies among farmers in Tamil Nadu. Despite its low rates of adoption, agro-forestry remains an important component of sustainable land-use, development in agricultural production and reduction of food insecurity. The data collected using structured questionnaire from 240 farmers, were analysed using descriptive statistics regression analysis and pearson product moment correlation (PPMC). The study has shown that the farmers were largely aware of agro forestry and had adopted silviculture/agrisilviculture technology, the mean adoption rate of agro-forestry technologies being 79 per cent. The main determinants of adoption were farmers’ age, household size, educational level, farm size, farming experience income level, access to credit and extension contact. All variables, except farmers’ age, affected the adoption rate of agro-forestry technologies positively. Based on findings, the study has recommended that farmers be provided with loans at concessional interest rates to address their financial problems of adopting innovations. Additionally, information on management of agro forestry systems needs to be communicated in a simpler manner for easy understanding and interpretation by all farmers at the rural households.