Purpose: This article examined how institutional factors influencing
the promotion of two elephant crop-raiding deterrent innovations
(ECDIs) introduced to farmers through a ministry-based extension
system in the Okavango Delta, Botswana, have impacted farmers’
adoption behaviour. Methodology: A standardised interview
schedule was used to elicit responses from 388 randomly sampled
subsistence arable farmers on how institutions influenced the
adoption of ECDIs in five communities in the study area. This was
complemented by focus group discussions to obtain in-depth
information on the subject-matter. Key informants interviews
were also conducted with purposively selected extension agents,
village project committee chairpersons and village dikgosi.
Findings: Four institutional factors were found to be critical for the
adoption of ECDIs. These include institutional relations, availability
and/or supply of deterrent innovation inputs, farmers’ contact
with extension agents and government support for extension
services. Theoretical Implications: Immediate and widespread
adoption of ECDIs in the ever-changing socio-economic and
political environment can be enhanced by context-specific
institutional arrangements in addressing social and organisational
constraints to innovation adoption. Originality: This paper invoked
organisational theory to contribute to the scholarly debate on
how agricultural extension systems influence farming clientele’s
behaviour and social change. It offers the first attempt in the
investigation of the role of extension and associated institutions/
organisations in promoting adoption of ECDIs among subsistence
farmers in the Okavango Delta, Botswana. Findings indicate that
local farmers do not perceive extension agencies tohold
monopoly of ideas and solutions to their unique problems.