The importance of adopting innovations for agricultural productivity is well known. However, adoption rates are generally sub-optimal. This study investigates the determinants for adopting innovations by rice farmers in Cameroon. A multi-stage sampling approach was employed to identify and collect data from 800 rice farmers; using a structured and pretested questionnaire. Descriptive statistics and binary logistic regression were employed to analyze innovations and their adoption determinants. Rice farmers adopted eight of twenty-one technologies identified. The regression results revealed that ten of the thirty-three variables tested significantly influenced the adoption of innovations. Household size, farm size, level of motivation, extension visits, and the ongoing socio-political crisis had positive influence, while type of labor used, qualified personnel, innovation institutions, property rights, and social-norms affected innovations adoption negatively. Based on these results, we recommend the consolidation of positive drivers by rice technology promoting institutions in the area, while making efforts to address negative ones. Given that the regression model explained less than 50% of the factors influencing technology adoption (Nagelkerke R2=0.481), future research should expand the list of independent variables to generate results of greater relevance to policy-makers interested in improving rice production in Cameroon.

Keywords: Innovation adoption, technologies, regression analysis, Cameroon