Table 1 Definition and summary statistics of the explanatory variables used in the analysis

Dependent variables

Zai technology

1 = if farm household practices Zai technology

Farm size under Zai

Farm size allocated to Zai technology

1.36

Intensity of Zai technology

Quantity of organic manure applied in Zai per acre (kg)

32.14

Independent variables

Farmer characteristics

 Sex

1 = if respondent is a male

 Age

Age of the respondent in years

14.36

 Marital status

1 = if respondent is married

 Household size

Number of persons in the household (count)

5.24

 Educational attainment

Number of years spent in formal education

4.10

Economic factors

 Farm size

Farm size allocated to other crops in acres

2.60

 Non-farm income

1 = if respondent engages in any non-farm activity

 Hired labour

Quantity of labourers hired on Zai farm in person-days per cropping season

23.56

Institutional factors

 Extension contacts

1 = if respondent received extension services

–

 Access to credit

1 = if respondent received cash or input credit

–

 Demonstration farms

1 = if respondent visited demonstration farms

–

 Membership of FBOs

1 = if respondent is a member of a Farmer-based Organization (FBOs)

–

 Membership of VSLA

1 = if household is a member of Village Savings and Loans Association (VSLA)

–