Perceptions and decision-making: a case study on farmer adoption of aerobic rice

Aerobic rice (AR), a technology of water-saving varieties and its attached farm-management practice of non-submerged soil conditions, has been studied and disseminated for farmer validation. Socio-economic studies on farmer adaptation and adoption are being done in the farmer-participatory trial site as part of the continuing research and extension, where the involvement of farmers is in the evaluation of the variety towards further development of the technology. As part of those studies, this paper will present perceptions of farmers regarding aerobic rice, specifically of Apo variety, as well as the considerations in deciding to adopt or not to adopt the technology. The research aims to understand the process of farmer adoption of aerobic rice in the village of Pala-pala, San Ildefonso, Bulacan [Philippines]. Ethnographic methods of key informant interviews, focus group discussions and participant observation were used to gather qualitative data through two years of intermittent fieldwork. A survey on perceptions, knowledge, attitudes, and practices was done in 2005 among farmers who have planted AR. Most farmers have positive perceptions on AR such as its resilience in need for water, growth vigor, less need for fertilizers and pesticides, among others. These however, do not automatically translate to adoption. Farmers decide to adopt or not adopt AR based on specific criteria including extension pathways, economic advantage such as yield and marketability, fit of the technology with the farmer's cropping pattern and ecological conditions, and other farmer-specific factors. The study will explain how farmers, who are confronted with different choices in every aspect of rice production, in the end would make a decision to adopt a technology different from common practice. Aside from bringing out the criteria for adoption of aerobic rice, the study will also highlight implications to extending aerobic rice to end users from the farmers themselves.