organizations
8 in the village by assessing how easily help could be obtained, which
is referred to as vertical connection. In addition, we included a variable on household participation in the Farmers’ Union as a measure of horizontal social capital.
The daily per capita expenditure variable was used as a proxy for wealth. Other
variables controlled for access to agricultural extension, human capital endowment,
and the possession of communication assets.
Among the potential influencing factors of adoption X 1i , control variables
accounted for major household, soil and farm characteristics, as well as geographic
location. In addition, we included a variable indicating whether material support
was received by the household in order to implement agroforestry. Material support
included labor, in-kind inputs (for example, seeds, seedlings or fertilizers) or cash
support. Such support has been provided in the study area, either by governmental
or non-governmental organizations, in order to encourage certain farmers to adopt
agroforestry practices. Within this strategy, several goals may have been pursued,
and different types of households targeted, such as farmers with a low investment
capacity, or influential/exemplary farmers – as a means to disseminate the technology further (using a demonstration plot), plus adoption could be enforced in areas of
strategic importance, such as easily visible locations close to the main road.
9
However, statistical tests showed no systematic differences between supported
and unsupported households regarding potential factors influencing adoption
(such as human, social, and financial capital). We therefore concluded that the
Table 7.7 (continued)
Variables
Description
Mean St. dev
HH expects reallocation
HH believes that a reallocation is likely to
occur (yes ¼ 1, no ¼ 0)
0.79 0.40
Villagers expecting reallocation Share of households in village expecting a
reallocation (in %)
d
79.01 13.54
Source: Saint-Macary et al. (2010)
*
Variable was included both in the main (adoption) and selection (knowledge) equations
a
HH household
b
Respondents were asked to assess how easy it was to get help from the village mass organization
and village head, in order to : (1) borrow money for education, (2) borrow money for health
expenses, (3) borrow money for any positive event, (4) borrow money for any negative event,
(5) borrow a water buffalo, and (6) ask for labor
c
The logged variable entered the regression
d
Excluding the respondent household
8 In Vietnam, mass organizations play a crucial role and are present at all administrative levels
(from the village to the state). They are composed of six unions representing women, farmers,
veterans, the elderly, young people and the ‘fatherland front’. In addition to participating in major
village decisions, these organizations carry out multiple tasks, from acting as extension agents to
acting as rural bank staff.
9 It was mentioned that farmers with plots located close to the national road had been strongly
encouraged to implement hedgerows on their field, so as to create a positive impression on officials
and visitors passing through the area.
7 Soil Conservation on Sloping Land: Technical Options and Adoption Constraints
263
8 in the village by assessing how easily help could be obtained, which
is referred to as vertical connection. In addition, we included a variable on household participation in the Farmers’ Union as a measure of horizontal social capital.
The daily per capita expenditure variable was used as a proxy for wealth. Other
variables controlled for access to agricultural extension, human capital endowment,
and the possession of communication assets.
Among the potential influencing factors of adoption X 1i , control variables
accounted for major household, soil and farm characteristics, as well as geographic
location. In addition, we included a variable indicating whether material support
was received by the household in order to implement agroforestry. Material support
included labor, in-kind inputs (for example, seeds, seedlings or fertilizers) or cash
support. Such support has been provided in the study area, either by governmental
or non-governmental organizations, in order to encourage certain farmers to adopt
agroforestry practices. Within this strategy, several goals may have been pursued,
and different types of households targeted, such as farmers with a low investment
capacity, or influential/exemplary farmers – as a means to disseminate the technology further (using a demonstration plot), plus adoption could be enforced in areas of
strategic importance, such as easily visible locations close to the main road.
9
However, statistical tests showed no systematic differences between supported
and unsupported households regarding potential factors influencing adoption
(such as human, social, and financial capital). We therefore concluded that the
Table 7.7 (continued)
Variables
Description
Mean St. dev
HH expects reallocation
HH believes that a reallocation is likely to
occur (yes ¼ 1, no ¼ 0)
0.79 0.40
Villagers expecting reallocation Share of households in village expecting a
reallocation (in %)
d
79.01 13.54
Source: Saint-Macary et al. (2010)
*
Variable was included both in the main (adoption) and selection (knowledge) equations
a
HH household
b
Respondents were asked to assess how easy it was to get help from the village mass organization
and village head, in order to : (1) borrow money for education, (2) borrow money for health
expenses, (3) borrow money for any positive event, (4) borrow money for any negative event,
(5) borrow a water buffalo, and (6) ask for labor
c
The logged variable entered the regression
d
Excluding the respondent household
8 In Vietnam, mass organizations play a crucial role and are present at all administrative levels
(from the village to the state). They are composed of six unions representing women, farmers,
veterans, the elderly, young people and the ‘fatherland front’. In addition to participating in major
village decisions, these organizations carry out multiple tasks, from acting as extension agents to
acting as rural bank staff.
9 It was mentioned that farmers with plots located close to the national road had been strongly
encouraged to implement hedgerows on their field, so as to create a positive impression on officials
and visitors passing through the area.
7 Soil Conservation on Sloping Land: Technical Options and Adoption Constraints
263