Determinants of agricultural technology adoption intensity among rice farmers in coastal Bangladesh

The adoption of improved farming technologies is essential for enhancing productivity in climate-vulnerable coastal Bangladesh. However, adoption remains uneven among smallholder rice farmers, despite extensive promotion. Existing studies emphasize the binary adoption of single technologies, overlooking the significance of adopting complementary technology bundles. To address this critical gap, this study examines the determinants of agricultural technology adoption intensity among rice farmers. Primary data were collected from 840 households across four coastal districts in January and February 2024 using a multistage random sampling method. Adoption intensity was measured by the number of yield-enhancing technologies adopted by a farmer. A Generalized Poisson Regression (GPR) model was employed to examine the socioeconomic, farm-level, and institutional factors influencing the intensity of technology adoption. The results revealed that, on average, farmers adopted approximately seven technologies, with notable spatial variation. Household size (β = 0.005, p < 0.10) and cropping intensity (β = 0.005, p < 0.01) were positively associated with adoption intensity. Farmer group membership (β = 0.109, p < 0.01) and access to extension services (β = 0.056, p < 0.05) increased the number of technologies adopted. In contrast, distance to extension agents (β = -0.023, p < 0.01) and access to off-farm income (β = -0.017, p < 0.10) were negatively associated with adoption intensity. This study highlights three key actionable policy recommendations. First, institutional support should be strengthened by leveraging farmer groups as the primary platforms for training, inputs, and credit. Second, extension services require decentralization through local hubs and mobile advisories to improve accessibility. Third, promotional efforts should transition to location-specific bundled technology packages tailored to address local constraints, such as salinity and waterlogging. Embedding these interventions within a supportive institutional framework can substantially increase adoption intensity, thereby enhancing rice productivity and resilience in coastal areas of Bangladesh.