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Abstract
The objective of this paper is to test the hypothesis that farmer perceptions of technology-
specific characteristics significantly condition technology adoption decisions. Earlier
adoption studies have not considered this in the analysis of the determinants of adoption
decisions. The omission of farmers' evaluation of technology-specific attributes may bias the
results of factors conditioning adoption choices.
A Tobit model was used to test this hypothesis using a stratified random sample of 124
mangrove swamp rice farmers in Sierra Leone. The issue investigated is the adoption of
improved mangrove swamp rice varieties. The estimated model results show that farmer
perceptions of the technology-specific attributes of the varieties are the major factors
determining adoption and use intensities. Indicators of adoption determinants traditionally
used in adoption-diffusion studies were found not to be important in driving adoption
decisions. Therefore, there is need for adoption studies to consider farmers' perceptions of
technology-specific attributes in the assessment of technology adoption decisions.