Organic agriculture adoption factors in the Piura region 2020

Abstract

Organic agriculture is an autonomous agricultural cultivation system based on the optimal use of natural resources, and arises in response to the contamination of conventional agriculture that uses synthetic chemicals. Since its inception, it has attracted growing interest and support worldwide. The research aims to identify the characteristics of farmers and the factors that determine the existence of organic agriculture in the Piura region. To identify the characteristics of farmers we used parametric and non-parametric tests and for the determining factors, we developed a probabilistic probit econometric model. The database comes from the 2018 National Agricultural Survey. There are significant differences between both groups of samples of farmers who adopt and do not adopt organic agriculture. The most important factors that influence and determine the probability of adoption of organic agriculture is the use of organic fertilizer, use of irrigation, training, technical assistance and whether it belongs to any association, committee or cooperative, each with effects of 1.8, 1.5, 1.6, 1.5 and 1.2 percentage points respectively. Another group of factors with minimal effects are the use of chemical fertilizers, use of certified seed and financing with -0.6, 0.1 and 0.2 percentage points respectively. Finally, the agricultural area and the altitudinal level with 0.0004 and 0.0003 percentage points of probability. The educational level does not have a significant influence; therefore, it is not a determining factor in the adoption of organic agriculture. Similar behavior has the gender variable.