Agricultural technologies are considered as efficient instruments to support rural and
economic development. In general, socio-economic factors are considered as the main
determinants that delay or encourage the adoption of improved technologies. Other
predictors such as health factors have rarely been included in studies as determinants
of (non)adoption (Ersado et al 2004). As a result, this study attempts to determine
whether or not health factors (farmers’ health status and accessibility to healthcare
services) negatively and significantly influence the adoption of improved agricultural
technologies. A Tobit model and a bivariate probit model were designed to evaluate the
hypothesis that health factors significantly and negatively impact the adoption of
improved maize seeds and inorganic fertilizers in Malawi (Southern Africa). The study
uses data from the 2010-2011 Malawi Third Integrated Household Survey (Malawi
2010-2011 IHS3). Overall, findings from this analysis support the hypothesis that longer
distances to places were farmers can buy medication negatively and significantly impact
the adoption of improved technologies; especially in the case of inorganic fertilizers. The
results, however, do not indicate that chronic sickness significantly impact adoption
behavior; although the impact is negative. Additionally, the results suggest that socioeconomic
factors that significantly influence the adoption of hybrid maize seeds and
inorganic fertilizers include: education, plot ownership, hired labor, and the price of
chemical fertilizers. These results, in part, support policies designed to improve
healthcare systems and strengthen collaborative work between the health and
agricultural sectors.