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Asian Journal of Agriculture and Development (AJAD) - Call for papers!

Adoption of Stone Jatropha (Vernicia montana) Cultivation in Upland Area North Lao PDR: Case Study in Xiengnguen District, Luangprabang Province

(Lao PDR), Master of Science in Agriculture (Khon Kaen University)

Thesis Abstract:

The promotion of adoption of the stone jatropha (Vernicia montana) plantation for biofuel production in Lao PDR appeared no massive adoption has been done by smallholder farmers. Therefore, the objective of this study was to identify the socioeconomic characteristics of smallholder of Xiengnguen District, Luangprabang Province, Lao PDR to establish how these characteristics influence its adoption by employing the logistic regression model. A structured questionnaire was used to collect data from September through November 2014. The study, with a sample size of 156 (67 adopters and 89 non-adopters), was carried out in two villages of Xiengnguen District. The results indicated that amongst adopter groups, the size of land utilization for stone jatropha cultivation was 0.54, 0.46, and 0.42 ha in the majority adopter, late adopter, and early adopter, respectively. For non-adopter group, most of land utilization was for cash crop, main crop, livestock, and orchard production. For the age, gender, and number of household members, adopters’ percentage were higher than non-adopters. Approximately 34.80–50.80 percent of all adopters and non- adopters had studied at least primary school education. Land holding was found higher in early adopters than majority adopters, late adopters, and non-adopters. Also, early adopters had higher average household income (USD 8,213.40) than non- adopters (USD 3,477.70), majority adopters (USD 2,917.80) and late adopters (USD 2,834.50). Besides, 83.10 percent of non-adopters did not trust their buyers, while 50 percent of early adopters completely trusted their buyers. In addition, among other socioeconomic factors, education level, key decision-makers (husband), and trust in buyers were only significant (p < .05) factors determining stone jatropha adoption. It led to conclude that level of education, a key decision-maker, which is the head of the family, and trust in buyer ease the farmer’s ability to early adopt stone jatropha cultivation.