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Abstract
The importance of farmers’ perceptions of characteristics on agricultural innovation adoption
has increased these two decades. Empirical studies revealed that in addition to farmers’ socioeconomic
characteristics and institutional factors, farmers’ perceptions of the innovation-specific
characteristics are particularly important in determining whether or not to adopt them.
This study assessed vegetables farmers’ perceptions of botanical extracts and biopesticides
compared with current chemical pesticides. It also examined the relationship between
farmers’ perceptions and the adoption of botanical extracts and biopesticides. Data were
collected from a stratified randomly sample of 198 vegetables farmers selected in vegetable
producing zones in Benin and interviewed for their use and perceptions on the efficiency of
the botanical extracts and biopesticides on the pests and diseases they faced. The paper used
on the one hand the ordered probit to identify factors that are likely to affect farmers’
perceptions and on the other hand the selection model to estimate the impact of these
perceptions on botanical extracts and biopesticides adoption. Results indicated that botanical
extracts and biopesticides were perceived by farmers to have slow action, require more labor
and skill for the extraction and require many sprays. Empirical results from the ordered probit
showed that farmers’ perceptions of botanical extracts and biopesticides varied according to
their experience in vegetables production, education level, contact with extension agents and
researchers as well as gender. The results from the selection model indicate that farmers’ perceptions have currently a negative and significant impact of vegetables on botanical
extracts and biopesticides adoption.