Parallel mediation model of social capital, learning and the adoption of best crop management practices: Evidence from Pakistani small farmers
China Agricultural Economic Review
ISSN: 1756-137X
Article publication date: 16 July 2018
Issue publication date: 17 October 2018
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to examine the effect of social capital on the adoption of best crop management practices and testified the mediatory role of learning in the relationship between social capital and the adoption of best crop management practices. Then the authors examined the role of education as the moderator of the interrelations between social capital, learning and the adoption of crop management practices.
Design/methodology/approach
Based on a survey of 317 small farmers from three districts of Southern Punjab, the authors used structural equation modeling and bootstrapping to test these relationships.
Findings
The study confirms that bonding social capital and bridging social capital are positively related to the adoption of best crop management practices. Moreover, the authors empirically demonstrate that exploitative and explorative learning act as the parallel mediators between social capital and the adoption of best crop management practices.
Practical implications
By focusing on building social capital and maintaining meaningful interactions with the social networks, the small farmers can improve their existing methods and practices of managing the existing varieties of crops.
Originality/value
The extant literature has highlighted, but usually not explored, the imperative interrelations between social capital, learning and the adoption of best crop management practices. The authors provide empirical evidence about these relationships.
Keywords
Citation
Usman, M. and Ahmad, M.I. (2018), "Parallel mediation model of social capital, learning and the adoption of best crop management practices: Evidence from Pakistani small farmers", China Agricultural Economic Review, Vol. 10 No. 4, pp. 589-607. https://doi.org/10.1108/CAER-01-2017-0002
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2018, Emerald Publishing Limited