DETERMINANTS OF NEW TECHNOLOGY ADOPTION IN MANGO FARMING: AN EVIDENCE FROM CHITTAGONG HILL TRACTS

Abstract

Mango is one of the commercial horticultural crop grown in many South Asian countries. Right now, Bangladesh is the 7 th largest mango producer in the world. The objectives of the study were: (i) to determine the social profile of tribal community farmers, (ii) to find the available adoption technology in tribal community; and (iii) to identify the determinants of new technology adoption by tribal mango farmers. The research surveyed 100 randomly chosen farmers in the Khagrachhari Sadar, Panchhari, Mohalchhari, and Dighinala upazilas of the Khagrachhari district during June to August 2021. Binary logistic regressing model was used to identify the determinants of new technology adoption. The dependent variable on adoption of new technology ((i)Fruit Bagging Technology; (ii) High Density Farming; and (iii) Contour Farming), whereas nine chosen characteristics of the respondents were considered as independent variables. These are: (i) Age, (ii) Secondary Occupation; (iii) Higher level of education; (iv) Training; (v) Experience; (vi) Social/Agricultural organization participation; (vii) Friends contact; (viii) Family contact; and (ix) Use of social media. Among selected characteristics of the respondents viz. highest education level of family, experience, friends contact, family contact and use of social media had significant positive contribution and characteristics like experience had significant negative contribution to their adoption of fruit bagging technology in mango farming. Among selected characteristics of the respondents viz. highest education level of family, training, friends contact, family contact and use of social media had significant positive contribution to their adoption of both high density farming and contour farming in mango farming. Thus, researchers and extension personnel should examine these critical elements in order to improve the mango farming who adopt new technology in Chittagong Hill Tracts.