Smallholder decision-making process in technology adoption intention: implications for Dipterocarpus alatus in Northeastern Thailand

Pickering Emulsion of Oleoresin from Dipterocarpus alatus Roxb. ex G. Don and Its Antiproliferation in Colon (HCT116) and Liver (HepG2) Cancer Cells

Oleoresin of Dipterocarpus alatus Roxb. ex G. Don (DA) has been traditionally used for local medicinal applications. Several in vitro studies have indicated its pharmacological potential. However, the low water solubility hinders its use and development for pharmaceutical purposes. The study aimed to (1) formulate oil-in-water (o/w) Pickering emulsions of DA oleoresin and (2) demonstrate its activities in cancer cells. The Pickering emulsions were formulated using biocompatible carboxylated cellulose nanocrystal (cCNC) as an emulsifier. The optimized emulsion comprised 3% (F1) and 4% (v/v) (F2) of oleoresin in 1% cCNC and 0.1 M NaCl, which possessed homogeneity and physical stability compared with other formulations with uniform droplet size and low viscosity. The constituent analysis indicated the presence of the biomarker dipterocarpol in both F1 and F2. The pharmacological effects of the two emulsions were demonstrated in vitro against two cancer cell lines, HepG2 and HCT116. Both F1 and F2 suppressed cancer cell viability. The treated cells underwent apoptosis, as demonstrated by distinct nuclear morphological changes in DAPI-stained cells and Annexin V/PI-stained cells detected by flow cytometry. Our study highlights the prospect of Pickering emulsions for oleoresin, emphasizing enhanced stability and potential pharmacological advantages.

Policy options for promoting wider use of biopesticides in Thai agriculture

Biopesticides are rapidly growing in importance for crop protection globally, but nearly all growth is happening in high income countries. No previous work systematically analyzed how lower-income countries can better benefit from the increased availability of biopesticides, which is important because these countries are particularly affected by the adverse effects of chemical pesticide use. Here we review the legislation of biopesticides in Thailand and combine this with stakeholder interviews and interview data from 300 smallholder farmers producing rice, fruit, vegetables, and flowers. We find that Thailand has adopted a biopesticide registration system that facilitates a fast-track registration, but it is still relatively costly considering the small market size. While 65 % of the sampled farmers used biopesticides, most farmers still heavily relied on conventional pesticides as their main method to control pests. Education, farming experience, positive attitudes of biopesticides, adoption of other integrated pest management methods and contacts with government extension agents were positively associated with biopesticide use. Coordinated action is needed to stimulate the supply of a wider range of biopesticide products while promoting adoption among farmers.

Drivers linking farmers' decision-making with farm performance: A systematic review and future research agenda

A strong aptitude for making sound decisions on a farm is closely linked to favorable farm outcomes, and this finding has been observed across diverse types of farm businesses and geographic locations. Traditionally, research in farm management has addressed the drivers of decision-making and performance as separate entities; however, this article presents novel evidence on the relationship between farmers' decision-making and farm performance. We also examine this association in various contexts of farm decision-making, spanning the past decade. Our comprehensive review encompasses 24 empirical studies conducted in accordance with the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. The analysis focuses on research topics, performance measures, and methodological perspectives. The findings reveal seven key research topics: farmers' management capacity; the influence of management and farm structure; farmers' emotional attachment to their businesses; personal aspects, farm characteristics, and institutional settings; the significance of farm recordkeeping; joint decisions in farm decision-making processes; and rational inefficiencies in farm decisions. Most studies employed conventional farm performance measures, including financial indicators, technical efficiency, and productivity indicators. Existing studies have predominantly used quantitative methodologies. We also identified research gaps and provide suggestions for future investigations in this field. Our results underscore the pivotal role of decision-making ability in shaping farmers' managerial capacity and, consequently, farm performance.

Q-methodology and farmers' decision-making

Despite extensive research on farmers' constraints and decisions, technology developers, policymakers and development organizations still encounter difficulties in relating policies to farmers' strategies. Often, the concept of ‘smallholders' is applied as explaining and predicting farmers' decisions—suggesting that specific strategies of farmers can be meaningfully related to their farm size. Our study into farmers' decision-making concerning water transport technologies in Malawi suggests that this way of grouping farmers in policy and development programs does not match actual decision strategies. Using Q-methodology (Q) as a method allowed us to find decision-making patterns without predefining variables that would influence decision-making. We found that farmers within a predefined smallholder group did not decide in the same ways. Furthermore, our results show that decision-making has a clear gender dimension. We argue that Q is able to capture the nuances of farmers' decision-making processes. As such, the methodology potentially provides a useful feed for policy and technology development.

Farmers' willingness to adopt geographical indication practice in Indonesia: A psycho behavioral analysis

The paper examined the factors influencing farmer’s willingness to adopt GI (geographical indication) practices in the Indonesian coffee sector from a psycho behavioral perspective. Specifically, the paper examined the psychological factors influencing the willingness of farmers to adopt GI. The study combined (1) the Planned Behavior (TPB) theory and (2) Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) as the theoretical framework. The following psycho behavioral factors were constructed and tested: subjective norm (SN), perceived behavioral control (PBC), attitudes toward behavior (ATB), perceived usefulness (PU) and perceived economic benefit (PEB). The study also investigated the effects of sociodemographic factors on these psycho behavioral constructs. The survey was conducted in two geographical indication coffee territories in Indonesia that involved 178 farmers who are perceived as willing to adopt GI practices and procedures. The relationship between constructs was investigated in which structural equation modeling (SEM) was used. The obtain data were analyzed using WarpPLS 7.0. The study finds that attitude toward behavior, perceived behavioral control, and perceived economic benefit, as important factors influencing the willingness to adopt GI practices. The subjective norm did not affect willingness to adopt GI practices. Farmers’ knowledge mainly affected perceived behavioral control and willingness to adopt GI practices and procedures.