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duction. The respondents also reported that if the technology being introduced did
not interfere with their existing local practices, the chances that they would buy and
utilize it were high. Another factor relating to adoption, as reported by respondents,
was the size of the household. Respondents indicated that when one had many household members, the available labor would encourage them to adopt a new crop technology that was high yielding. The size and quality of cultivable land was also one of
the factors reported to influence adoption of rice technologies, that is to say, if one
had the land available, then the chances of adopting the rice technology were high.
This is because when land is available, farmers are flexible to allocate more land to
rice. Apparently, all the respondents interviewed indicated that rice field management practices are very laborious. The most critical needs of labor are in land preparation (since the land needs to be plowed 2–3 times before planting), planting (since
making furrows with local materials such as sticks is very tedious), weeding (about
2–3 times are required for weeding), and bird scaring (if birds are not scared, total
loss is experienced, and so far no effective alternative control methods are available).
Varietal Characteristics That Influence Adoption of a Technology
Other important factors to consider for increased adoption were varietal characteristics in terms of what farmers want with respect to yield and tillering capacity.
Demand for the variety on the market was also important, in addition to resistance
to rice pests and diseases. Also, concerns about the ability for rice to survive under
lower rainfall conditions were important, in addition to the extent of demand
attached to the growing cycle criterion, i.e., a shorter growing cycle was viewed as
desirable. Other factors reported to influence the adoption of technologies by
respondents were high-yielding attribute of a variety, tillers being viewed as able to
survive the stress and damage by birds, early-maturing varieties, resistance to
drought and disease/insects, tolerance to salinity, higher volume after cooking, ease
of harvesting, and a good aroma and taste. Figure 15 indicates some of the factors
listed by respondents perceived to influence the rate of technology adoption.
Based on the results in Fig. 15, majority of female respondents noted that the use
of stress-tolerant crop varieties and planting of early-maturing varieties were highly
likely to affect the adoption rate of technology. Other factors such as new land management techniques, pest and disease management techniques, development and
use of crop varieties resistant to pests and diseases, new livestock breeds, and
improved animal health management were also reported by a higher percentage of
respondents as likely to influence the rate of technology adoption.
4 Conclusions and Recommendations
This section presents the conclusions and recommendations, based on the findings
of the study. The study aimed at examining gender-differentiated effects of climate
change among men and women. The study made use of existing experience and
Gendered Adaptation and Coping Mechanisms to Climate Variability in Eastern…
duction. The respondents also reported that if the technology being introduced did
not interfere with their existing local practices, the chances that they would buy and
utilize it were high. Another factor relating to adoption, as reported by respondents,
was the size of the household. Respondents indicated that when one had many household members, the available labor would encourage them to adopt a new crop technology that was high yielding. The size and quality of cultivable land was also one of
the factors reported to influence adoption of rice technologies, that is to say, if one
had the land available, then the chances of adopting the rice technology were high.
This is because when land is available, farmers are flexible to allocate more land to
rice. Apparently, all the respondents interviewed indicated that rice field management practices are very laborious. The most critical needs of labor are in land preparation (since the land needs to be plowed 2–3 times before planting), planting (since
making furrows with local materials such as sticks is very tedious), weeding (about
2–3 times are required for weeding), and bird scaring (if birds are not scared, total
loss is experienced, and so far no effective alternative control methods are available).
Varietal Characteristics That Influence Adoption of a Technology
Other important factors to consider for increased adoption were varietal characteristics in terms of what farmers want with respect to yield and tillering capacity.
Demand for the variety on the market was also important, in addition to resistance
to rice pests and diseases. Also, concerns about the ability for rice to survive under
lower rainfall conditions were important, in addition to the extent of demand
attached to the growing cycle criterion, i.e., a shorter growing cycle was viewed as
desirable. Other factors reported to influence the adoption of technologies by
respondents were high-yielding attribute of a variety, tillers being viewed as able to
survive the stress and damage by birds, early-maturing varieties, resistance to
drought and disease/insects, tolerance to salinity, higher volume after cooking, ease
of harvesting, and a good aroma and taste. Figure 15 indicates some of the factors
listed by respondents perceived to influence the rate of technology adoption.
Based on the results in Fig. 15, majority of female respondents noted that the use
of stress-tolerant crop varieties and planting of early-maturing varieties were highly
likely to affect the adoption rate of technology. Other factors such as new land management techniques, pest and disease management techniques, development and
use of crop varieties resistant to pests and diseases, new livestock breeds, and
improved animal health management were also reported by a higher percentage of
respondents as likely to influence the rate of technology adoption.
4 Conclusions and Recommendations
This section presents the conclusions and recommendations, based on the findings
of the study. The study aimed at examining gender-differentiated effects of climate
change among men and women. The study made use of existing experience and
Gendered Adaptation and Coping Mechanisms to Climate Variability in Eastern…