What is it about?
This study examines how small citrus farmers in Gunuang Omeh, Lima Puluh Kota, Indonesia, adopt agricultural technology and its relationship to fruit fly infestations, which significantly impact citrus production. The research focuses on Integrated Management for Healthy Citrus Orchards (IMHCO), a technology designed to enhance citrus health and reduce pest attacks. The study analyzes farmers' adoption levels, influencing factors, and their impact on pest control effectiveness. Findings reveal that while individual adoption rates of IMHCO are high, group-based adoption for fruit fly control remains low, leading to ineffective pest management. Farmers with better access to information, credit, and market inputs tend to adopt IMHCO more readily, whereas those in remote areas or with financial constraints struggle with adoption. The study highlights the need for better farmer education, improved access to credit, and collaborative pest management strategies to enhance fruit fly control and citrus farm sustainability
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Why is it important?
This research is important because it addresses a critical challenge in citrus farming—the relationship between technology adoption and pest management, particularly in controlling fruit fly infestations that severely impact citrus yield and farmer income. Small-scale farmers in Gunuang Omeh, Lima Puluh Kota, Indonesia, rely on citrus cultivation as a primary livelihood source, yet their ability to implement Integrated Management for Healthy Citrus Orchards (IMHCO) varies due to limited access to resources, financial constraints, and knowledge gaps. Understanding the factors that influence technology adoption is essential to improving pest control strategies, farm productivity, and rural economic stability. Moreover, the study highlights a major weakness in group-based pest control efforts, which are essential for effective fruit fly management. Since fruit flies can spread across multiple farms, individual efforts are insufficient without collective action. The findings emphasize the need for policy interventions, such as better access to agricultural credit, farmer training programs, and infrastructure improvements, to encourage wider adoption of IMHCO. By addressing these barriers, pest outbreaks can be mitigated, reducing economic losses and ensuring the long-term sustainability of citrus farming in the region.
Perspectives
This research highlights a crucial gap between technology availability and its effective adoption among small citrus farmers in Gunuang Omeh, Lima Puluh Kota, Indonesia. While Integrated Management for Healthy Citrus Orchards (IMHCO) offers a promising solution for enhancing citrus health and reducing fruit fly infestations, its impact is limited due to low group-based adoption rates. This underscores a key issue in smallholder agriculture—individual efforts alone are not enough to combat large-scale pest threats, particularly for mobile pests like fruit flies that can spread across multiple farms. The study makes it clear that pest management must be a collective effort, requiring better coordination and farmer collaboration. Additionally, the research points to structural barriers that hinder technology adoption, such as difficulty in accessing credit, limited agricultural extension services, and logistical challenges in remote farming areas. These findings reinforce the urgent need for policy-driven interventions, including financial support for farmers, expanded agricultural training, and improved infrastructure to facilitate access to markets and extension services. Future research should explore ways to enhance cooperative farming models, integrate digital tools for pest monitoring, and develop community-led pest management initiatives. By addressing these challenges, policymakers and agricultural stakeholders can help bridge the gap between knowledge and practice, leading to more effective and sustainable citrus farming
Zainuri Hanif
National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN)
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Understanding small farmers’ technology adoption and its relation to fruit fly attack: a case study from Gunuang Omeh, Lima Puluh Kota, Indonesia, Ciência Rural, January 2024, FapUNIFESP (SciELO),
DOI: 10.1590/0103-8478cr20230393.
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