Do the factors influencing the adoption and intensity of use of agroecological practices go hand in hand?

This article analyses the adoption and intensity of use decisions of agroecological practices (AEP) by vegetable and root farmers in Martinique and Guadeloupe. Using data collected from about 400 producers, we run a double-hurdle model to study this two-step mechanism. While a large body of the literature covers the influence of farmers' and farms' characteristics on adoption, we go further by considering farmers' perceptions of the usefulness of information provided by several networks such as farmers' organisations, advisors, other farmers and relatives. Our results show that some factors affect both adoption and intensity of use decisions, some affect only one of the two. Among the main results, being younger, having received agricultural training, not using plant protection products, producing on smaller farms and being located in low rainfall zones are associated with a greater number of AEP adopted. While being member of a network is also associated with a greater intensity of use, we show that an increase in the level of perception of support received from both farmers organisations/associations and advisors/extension services increases both the probability of adopting AEP and intensity of use. These findings underline the importance of considering farmers' perceptions beyond simply being a member of a network in order to study the obstacles and levers for effective support of farmers in their agroecological transition process.