Characteristics and Barriers Impacting the Eradication of an Invasive Species in Trinidad and Tobago: Case Study of the Giant African Snail (Achatina fulica) A Three Paper Dissertation

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to understand the influence of selected factors on the adoption of eradication methods/programs for the Giant African Snail (Achatina fulica) by farmers. This study used Rogers, (2003) Diffusion of Innovation Theory theoretical framework, an adaptation of the Davis Technology Acceptance Model, and an adaptation of the Mobile Money Transfer Services (MMT’s) model to explain factors that contribute to the adoption of the eradication methods of the Giant African Snail (GAS) by farmers in Trinidad and Tobago. A cross-sectional design was used for this study. Analytical and descriptive analysis was done and these included frequencies, percentages, means, standard deviations, correlations, and ordinal regression. Results show that the majority of farmers (56.8%) were in the confirmation stage when it came to the eradication of GAS. Overall, farmers strongly agreed that the eradication methods of GAS were not complex. Farmers agreed that they had a relative advantage over the eradication methods and the eradication methods were compatible and trailable. Farmers neither agreed nor disagreed that the eradication methods of GAS were observable. There were significant relationships between farmers' farming status and trialability, and between farmers' highest level of education and relative advantage; and trialability. Farmers believed that concerns about incentives, financial concerns, and planning concerns were very strong barriers to eradication methods for the GAS. In general, farmers feel that time constraints pose a moderate barrier to GAS eradication methods. Farmers felt that concerns about technology were a strong barrier. There were significant relationships between farmers' gender and concerns about incentives and between farmers' gender and planning concerns. Also, there were significant relationships between farmers' highest level of education and the potential barriers concerns about incentives, planning concerns, and technology concerns as well as between farmers' farming status and the potential barriers concerns about incentives, planning concerns, and technology concerns. The majority of farmers in this study were males (68.2%) while (31.8%) were females. Thirteen respondents (29.5%) were ages 31- 40, 41- 50, and over the age of 50. Five respondents (11.4%) were under 30 years old. The majority of farmers were from Caroni County (29.5%) and most of the farmers (61.4%) were full-time farmers. Most farmers' (40.9%) level of education was secondary education while there was a substantial amount that had a bachelor’s degree (22.8%). Farmers who have secondary education and a bachelor’s degree were more likely to have a lower participation rate in the eradication methods of GAS and full-time farmers were more likely to have a higher participation rate in the eradication methods of GAS.

Keywords: Giant African Snail (Achatina fulica), Diffusion of Innovation Theory, Technology Acceptance Model, perceived barriers, Mobile Money Transfer Services model, sociodemographic factors, level of participation, eradication methods.