LEARNING FROM 6 REASONS WHY FARMERS DO NOT ADOPT INNOVATIONS INTENDED TO IMPROVE SUSTAINABILITY OF UPLAND AGRICULTURE

Upland agriculture in southeast Asia has been associated with resource-poor farmers, land degradation, soil and water losses, and increasing pest problems. Research and extension have offered farmers on-farm innovations-often forms of 'agroforestry'-intended to improve sustainability of upland agroecosystems. Farmer adoption, however, has been minimal. Based on case materials, six overlapping reasons why farmers do not adopt are that farmers do not face the problem targeted by the innovation, farmer practice is equal to or better than the innovation, the innovation does not work, extension fails, the innovation costs too much, and 'social' factors. Learning from such reasons, our work in the Philippines is hopefully leading to farmers' adaptation and adoption of contour vegetative strips for soil erosion control. A few conclusions are drawn.