Factors Influencing the Adoption of Sustainable Agricultural Practices: A Systematic Literature Review and Lesson Learned for India

In the light of growing concern over the sustainability of the agricultural system, the sustainability of input-intensive agricultural systems becomes questionable due to severe environmental challenges associated with it, for instance, overexploitation of natural resources, deteriorating biodiversity, adverse impact on human health. These challenges have led to increased awareness and a need to switch from input-intensive agriculture to sustainable agriculture. The sustainability of agricultural systems can be improved by adopting various sustainable agricultural practices (SAPs) like crop rotation, intercropping, organic farming, integrated pest management, zero tillage. However, the adoption rate of these practices is meager due to various factors. Hence, the present study aims to review the literature from the world to determine the critical factors in adopting SAPs and accordingly explore the potential implications for the Indian context. The study applies the vote-counting method to synthesize evidence-based 30 studies from 18 countries, focusing on developing nations. The findings suggest that the rate of adoption depends on a range of factors: socio-economic, biophysical, institutional, financial, technical, and psychological, but the rate of adoption is low. Thus, it is imperative to understand these essential factors comprehensively for successful future adoption strategies.