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The Effect of Social Capital on the Choice to Use Sustainable Agricultural Practices

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  26 January 2015

Abdul B.A. Munasib  and
Jeffrey L. Jordan
Abdul B.A. Munasib
Affiliation:
Department of Economics and Legal Studies in Business, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK
Jeffrey L. Jordan
Affiliation:
Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics, University of Georgia, Griffin Campus, Griffin, GA
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Abstract

We investigate whether social capital in the form of community involvement affects farmers' choice to use sustainable agricultural practices. Using associational memberships as a measure of community involvement we study its effects on agricultural practices among Georgia farmers. Our findings show that, first, community involvement had a positive effect on the decision to adopt sustainable agricultural practices, and, secondly, it also had a positive effect on the extent to which farmers adopt these practices. These findings establish an additional dimension to the benefits that would accrue to policies that promote social interaction and civic engagement in rural areas.

Keywords

adoptionassociational membershipscommunity involvementsocial capitalsustainable agricultureZ1Q16Q56
Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Agricultural and Applied Economics , Volume 43 , Issue 2 , May 2011 , pp. 213 - 227
Copyright
Copyright © Southern Agricultural Economics Association 2011

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