Socioeconomics Determinants to Adopt Agricultural Machinery for Sustainable Organic Farming in Pakistan: A Multinomial Probit Model

Muhammad Waqar Akram, Nida Akram, Hongshu Wang, Shahla Andleeb, Khalil Ur Rehman, Umair Kashif and Syed Farhaan Hassan
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Muhammad Waqar Akram: College of Economics & Management, North East Forestry University, Harbin 150040, China
Nida Akram: College of Economics & Management, North East Forestry University, Harbin 150040, China
Hongshu Wang: College of Economics & Management, North East Forestry University, Harbin 150040, China
Shahla Andleeb: Department of Environmental Science, Government College Women University, Sialkot 51310, Pakistan
Khalil Ur Rehman: Department of Environmental Science, Government College Women University, Sialkot 51310, Pakistan
Umair Kashif: College of Economics & Management, North East Forestry University, Harbin 150040, China
Syed Farhaan Hassan: Department Business Administration, Allama Iqbal Open University, Islamabad 44000, Pakistan

Sustainability, 2020, vol. 12, issue 23, 1-15

Abstract: Urbanization and low productivity are real threats to the sustainability of organic farming. The adoption of farm machinery plays a vital role in overcoming these threats to ensure a sustainable and more profitable organic farming model. Farm machinery can also increase farmland yield and reduce the need for labor, although the requirement of significant capital investment often prevents small farmers from buying machinery. There is an increased need to comprehend all relevant elements associated with farming machinery procurement and service delivery. In this article, we provide insight into the impact of different variables of farmers on the adoption of agricultural equipment. A total of 301 organic farmers were surveyed in three districts of Punjab, Pakistan. It was found that the most common machinery concerned herein are tube-well/pumps, tractors, tillage machinery, and thrashers/harvesters. Results from a multinomial probit estimation showed that farm machinery ownership is positively correlated with capital assets, civil infrastructure, alternative sources of power, and credit facility. The findings indicated that policymakers and stakeholders should not concentrate merely on short term planning, such as improving agricultural machinery’s adoption rate. Still, they should also strive to upgrade physical infrastructure and facilities and provide credit services to create an enabling environment that can empower the citizen in adopting large scale use of agricultural machinery for long term sustainability of organic farming.

Keywords: sustainability; organic farming; farm development; farm machinery; labor; farm investment; productivity (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (6)

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