Determinants of Irrigation Innovation Adoption in Southern Italian Agriculture

Abstract

The adoption of innovative irrigation technologies is strategic for improving water efficiency and strengthening the resilience of agricultural systems amid growing environmental, climatic, and economic pressures. This study examines the factors associated with the adoption of irrigation innovations among 201 FADN fruit and vegetable farms in Basilicata, Calabria, Campania, and Apulia, using a binary logistic regression model including structural, attitudinal, economic, and environmental variables. The results show that innovation orientation and perceived shortage of qualified staff are the factors most strongly associated with adoption. The former supports the relevance of behavioral and attitudinal factors in technological investment decisions; the latter may reflect the substitution of scarce specialized labor with technology, although reverse causality cannot be ruled out. Perceived high water costs are also significantly associated with a greater propensity for adoption. Larger farms (over 14 hectares) show a higher likelihood of adoption, despite perceiving financial constraints more acutely. Environmental concern and perceived water scarcity show only marginally significant positive associations (p < 0.10), while organic status and perceived lack of financial support show no significant association, nor do the socio-demographic control variables. Overall, irrigation innovation adoption is associated with individual, structural, economic, and organizational factors, offering insights into policies promoting efficient irrigation in similar Mediterranean farming contexts.