The adoption of farm machinery among rice farmers: A pairwise correlation analysis of eight farm machinery
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Abstract
Farmers’ adoption of farm machinery is prioritized based on the perceived importance and profitability of each piece of equipment. Furthermore, farmers are more likely to use a variety of machinery rather than a single piece of equipment to complete jobs more efficiently. When establishing policy initiatives to promote diversified adoption, it is essential to consider the interrelationships among machinery to avoid biased findings or misinterpretations. Consequently, correlated adoption patterns of various machinery types – whether adopted together or separately – may be more relevant than simply modeling adoption intensity. This study investigated farm machinery adoption among 93 rice farmers in Nong Saeng district, Saraburi province, Thailand, using pairwise correlation analysis. The findings revealed pairwise correlations between the eight categories of farm machinery, with varying signs and levels of significance. Significant positive correlations were identified between knapsack sprayers and combine harvesters (rs = 0.4626, p < 0.01), water pumps and lawnmowers (rs = 0.2604, p < 0.05), and combine harvesters and truck carriers (rs = 0.2543, p < 0.05). Conversely, significant negative correlations were found between wheel ploughs and tractors (rs = -0.2753, p < 0.01) and wheel ploughs and lawnmowers (rs = -0.3083, p < 0.01). From a policy standpoint, significant positive correlations suggest the potential effectiveness of bundled support. Significant negative correlations may indicate technological transitions, highlighting a need for targeted support for farmers using outdated equipment and incentives for modernization. Finally, weak or nonexistent correlations suggest unexploited synergies, which could be addressed through extension training programs focused on equipment complementarity to increase total farm efficiency.
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