Mediating role of organizational support and commitment on the relationship between psychological empowerment and innovativeness of farmer organizations in central Uganda

An investigation was carried out to establish the influence perceived organizational support (POSA) and farmer commitment (COMMIT) have on the relationship between psychological empowerment behavior (PEB) and innovativeness of smallholder farmer groups in Luweero and Wakiso district, Uganda. Participating farmer groups (FGs) were selected according to inter alia: whether the group was actively engaged in an agricultural enterprise, had existed for more than one year and accessed government support through NAADS (National agricultural advisory services) extension services. A quantitative survey was undertaken using questionnaires administered to 203 rural small holder farmers. Data from farmer responses were analyzed using the confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and structural equation modeling (SEM). Results showed that perceived organization support (β=1.251; p=0.001) and farmer commitment (β=0.967; p= 0.010) significantly mediated the relationship between PEB and innovativeness of smallholder farmers. The results further indicate that perceived organization support has a significant relationship with farmer innovativeness (β=0.461 ; p=0.003). However, psychological empowerment did not have a significant effect on farmer innovativeness β= 0.290; p= 0.709). Results suggest that farmer organizations with arrangements to support members and member commitment to group goals, promote farmer generation of new agricultural ideas, which are precursors to innovations. Therefore, when farmers feel that they are significantly supposed, their commitment to innovate is triggered.