Abstract/Summary

This paper identifies the socio-economic and farm variables and cognitive and social factors influencing the use of cultivated pastures by small-scale dairy farmers. A field survey was conducted. The sample was divided in two groups defined as: users (Group 1, n= 55) and non-users of the innovation (Group 2, n= 51). Data were analysed through the Mann Whitney test and the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB). Socioeconomic and farm variables influenced the use of cultivated grassland, as observed in Group 1. This group showed a bigger proportion of farmers (60 %) who indicated a positive intention to use cultivated grasslands, in comparison with 36 % of farmers from Group 2. Farmers from both groups perceived similarly the utility and importance of the use of cultivated grassland; however, farmers’ intention of Group 1 showed a significant correlation (P<0.05) with utility and importance. Other factors influencing the use of cultivated grasslands were the positive beliefs, social referents and difficulties perceived of the innovation. It concludes that different factors influenced the use of cultivated grassland in each group.