Determinants of conservation agriculture-based sustainable intensification technology adoption in smallholder farming systems: Empirical evidence from Nepal

A series of on-station and on-farm CASI-based zero tillage (ZT) trials with wheat, maize and kidney bean farming systems have proven to be beneficial in the Eastern Gangetic Plains (EGP) of South Asia economically and environmentally, yet the adoption of this technology among the Nepalese farmers remains low. A two-stage double hurdle model was used to identify and analyze the factors influencing the initial adoption and subsequent intensity of adoption decisions of CASI-based ZT technology in the Sunsari and Dhanusha districts in Nepal. Results showed that gender, education of farmers, farming experience, number of dependent members in households, migration, annual income, credit obtained for crop production, training attended, and exposure visits and field days were significant positive variables in both adoption and intensity of adoption decisions. It is recommended that efforts be made for improving farmers’ knowledge through farmers’ groups and cooperatives, and organizing training and exposure visits and field days for farmers to increase awareness and improve access to the adoption and spread the CASI technologies. The findings have large implications for the adoption and spread of CASI-based technologies and the sustainability of cereal-based farming systems not only in Nepal but in the entire EGP of South Asia.