| Abstract: |
Soil degradation poses a severe threat to smallholder farmers' livelihoods in
Madagascar, yet farmers' own perceptions of the processes affecting soil
quality remain poorly understood. This study analyzes the mental models of 1,
007 smallholder farmers in south-eastern Madagascar, examining how
environmental and socio-economic characteristics shape their understanding of
soil quality processes. As a second objective we examine whether mental model
elicitation influences agronomic knowledge and adoption intentions. Using a
representative survey with randomized assignment to the mental model
elicitation task, we find that Malagasy smallholder farmers hold moderately
complex mental models, most often drawing direct connections between drivers
and soil quality. Manure, rainfall, and heat are the most frequently included
drivers, with manure perceived as most beneficial for soil quality. Education
emerges as the strongest predictor of mental model complexity, with complexity
increasing progressively across education levels. Sex, age, and local climatic
conditions also shape both complexity and the inclusion of specific drivers.
Mental model elicitation did not meaningfully improve agronomic knowledge test
scores, but was positively associated with intentions to adopt manure
application. These findings underscore the value of farmers' systems thinking
and highlight the importance of accounting for socio-demographic and
environmental heterogeneity when seeking to understand local agricultural
knowledge systems. They further suggest that structured mental model
elicitation holds potential as a tool for targeted agricultural extension,
particularly for practices that are already salient in farmers' mental models
and positively perceived. |