Learning versus status quo bias and the role of social capital in technology adoption: The case of cocoa farmers in Côte d’Ivoire.

In this study, we allege that the hypothesis in favour of a status quo bias is a plausible explanation when it comes to better understanding the lack or the absence of adoption of the best farming practices in small rural communities in sub-Saharan Africa. Our results also suggest that the greater a farmer’s social capital, the more likely he is to exchange information, learn and eventually revise his farming practices. Such information about farming techniques disseminates through weak ties (bridges) built within agricultural organisations more than across family or diaspora members (i.e., via their stronger ties).