With the world’s population growing and dietary preferences changing, rising demand for animal-based food products like milk presents an opportunity for farmers in the developing world. Artificial insemination can help these farmers improve their productivity and increase their incomes, so why aren’t more taking advantage of it?
A new article from the Tata-Cornell Institute for Agriculture and Nutrition (TCI) sheds some light on the considerations that influence farmers’ decisions to use or not use artificial insemination. Published in Economic & Political Weekly, the study presents a systematic analysis of previously published research on artificial insemination, highlighting the factors that most heavily affect the technology’s adoption.
“Artificial insemination offers many benefits for livestock farmers, including the potential to increase their incomes, but still not many smallholders in the developing world are using this technology,” TCI Director Prabhu Pingali said. “Understanding why farmers do or do not use artificial insemination is crucial to crafting policies that encourage its increased adoption.”
TCI researchers examined 18 studies spanning 10 different developing countries. They grouped the factors influencing artificial insemination adoption into five categories: socio-demographics, livestock and farm-related attributes, artificial insemination-related details, institutional support, and psychological drivers.
Among sociodemographic factors, the researchers found that education and awareness of artificial insemination were the most influential. Six studies found a positive association between education level and adoption of artificial insemination because more educated farmers are better equipped to understand the benefits of the technology.
Milk prices, yields and income were significant farm-related factors uncovered by researchers, who reasoned that higher yields and incomes strengthen farmers’ financial capacity to pay for artificial insemination. A study from India directly linked higher milk sale prices with a higher likelihood of using artificial insemination.
Farmers’ distance from centers that perform artificial insemination is also a significant factor. The further a farm is from such a center, the less likely a farmer is to use artificial insemination. Because the window for insemination is typically quite short, needing to travel far distances increases a farmer’s risk of missing their opportunity.
Out of a range of factors directly related to artificial insemination, cost was the most influential among the studies analyzed by TCI, with higher costs associated with less adoption by farmers.
In terms of institutional support, the researchers found that contact with extension agents and training from farmer association programs are associated with higher adoption of artificial insemination, as they provide farmers with better access to information and relevant skills. Membership in farmers’ groups also makes it more likely for farmers to adopt artificial insemination, since the assured markets they provide make the technology a safer investment.
Researchers also identified several psychological factors supporting the adoption of artificial insemination. These include a perception of the technology as being profitable and a perception that it is not difficult to use.
Rising demand for high-quality animal food products is occurring at the same time that countries grapple with the implications of climate change, forcing policymakers and farmers to pursue the somewhat conflicting goals of increasing output while reducing agricultural emissions. Artificial insemination offers a solution by accelerating the genetic improvement of animals and improving their productivity, thus reducing herd sizes and related emissions. Aside from the environmental benefits, it also helps to mitigate disease transmission and increases farmer incomes.
Based on their findings, the researchers offered several recommendations for policymakers in developing countries to increase the use of artificial insemination. These include increasing awareness of artificial insemination through educational programs, campaigns and training services; building more infrastructure to reduce travel times to artificial insemination centers; and providing subsidies or cost-sharing mechanisms to make it more affordable.
“Our research shows that there are many possible avenues for policymakers to take in order to encourage the adoption of artificial insemination,” said lead author Payal Seth, a TCI alumna. “Ultimately, the most successful approach will effectively increase awareness, improve infrastructure, and reduce overall costs.”
Source : cornell.edu