Keywords:
adoption
diffusion of innovations
farmers
Islamic finance
marrakech-safi region

  • Abstract

    This study seeks to explore and identify the principal factors that shape Moroccan farmers’ intention to adopt Islamic financial products, with a particular emphasis on the agricultural sector in the Marrakech-Safi region. Despite the national expansion of participatory banking in Morocco, the adoption rate among farmers remains relatively low, which raises critical questions about the determinants influencing their behavioral intention. The research framework is based on Rogers’ Diffusion of Innovations (DOI) theory, which highlights five key perceived attributes of innovation relative advantage, compatibility, complexity, trialability, and observability. In addition to these theoretical dimensions, the study incorporates socio-demographic characteristics such as education, age, gender, and religiosity to provide a holistic understanding of the adoption process. A quantitative methodology was adopted, drawing on data collected from 387 farmers through a stratified random sampling technique to ensure representativeness across the region. The collected data were analyzed using a logistic regression model, complemented by robustness checks to verify the reliability of the findings. The results demonstrate that relative advantage, compatibility, and education have a strong and positive influence on farmers’ intention to adopt Islamic financial services. Conversely, complexity and age negatively affect adoption decisions, while trialability and observability exhibit weak statistical significance. Gender was found to have no significant impact, whereas religiosity displayed a moderate but meaningful effect. This research represents one of the first empirical applications of the DOI model to Islamic finance adoption within Moroccan agriculture. It contributes to the academic literature by offering context-specific evidence from an underexplored population segment in North Africa. Despite its geographical limitation to a single region and its focus on intention rather than actual behavior, the study provides practical insights for policymakers and participatory banks. The findings highlight the importance of simplifying Islamic finance contracts, enhancing financial literacy, and increasing the visibility and accessibility of participatory banking products in rural communities.

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Boudali, R., El Hidaoui, M. R., & Omerani, D. (2025). Determinants of adoption of specific Islamic financial products by farmers in Marrakech-Safi, Morocco. Multidisciplinary Science Journal, 8(5), 2026340. https://doi.org/10.31893/multiscience.2026340
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