Willingness to Pay to Adopt Conservation Agriculture in Northern Namibia

This paper aims to explore the willingness of farmers in the northern Namibia to adopt conservation agriculture (CA), employing the conditional logit model to estimate the probability of farmers choosing to adopt CA in different villages relative to all other alternatives and examining the effects of omitted variance and correlations on coefficient estimates, willingness to pay (WTP), and decision predictions. This study has practical significance, as agriculture plays a crucial role in the economic development of and livelihoods in Namibia, especially for those farmers who rely on small-scale farming as a means of subsistence. In terms of methodology, the data for the experimental choice simulation were collected using a structured questionnaire administered through a face-to-face survey approach. This paper adopts the conditional logit model to estimate the probability of farmers choosing to adopt CA in different villages, which is an appropriate choice as the model is capable of handling multi-option decision problems. This paper further enhances its rigor and reliability by simulating discrete choice experiments to investigate the impact of omitted variables and correlations on the estimation results. The research findings indicate that crop rotation and permanent soil cover are the main factors positively influencing farmers’ WTP for adopting CA, while intercropping, the time spent on soil preparation in the first season, and the frequency and rate of weeding consistently negatively influence the WTP for adopting CA. These discoveries provide valuable insights for formulating policy measures to promote the adoption of CA. In terms of policy recommendations, this paper puts forward targeted suggestions, including the appointment of specialized extension technicians by the Ministry of Agriculture, Water, and Land Reform to disseminate information as well as coordinate, promote, and personally implement CA activities across all regions. Additionally, to expedite the adoption of CA, stakeholders should ensure the availability of appropriate farming equipment, such as rippers and direct seeders, in local markets.