Understanding the Process of Agricultural Technology Adoption: Mineral Fertilizer in Eastern DR Congo

We analyze the adoption of mineral fertilizer in South-Kivu. We model technology adoption as a three-step-process, including awareness, tryout, and adoption; and empirically analyze these steps using cross-sectional farm-household data, and bivariate and Heckman selection probit models. We find that awareness about fertilizer is high (57%) and mainly determined by education and social capital. Tryout is low (13% of aware farmers) but positively influenced by extension interventions. Continued adoption is high (70% of tryout farmers) but capital constraints are important and not all extension interventions are effective for continued adoption. Our results entail implications for extension policies in poor areas.