Does information network affect spread of new crops? A study on the spread of bitter gourd and sunflower cultivation among the farmers of a Sunderbans island in West Bengal, India

Adoption research for many years has considered individual farmer as the basis of analysis, whereas the effect of networks governing a farmer’s decision-making has received limited attention. Moreover, the spread of technology over different generation of adopters has not been addressed adequately. Hence, farmers’ position within the agricultural information networks and their adoption decision, may be studied to formulate some lower order propositions regarding the diffusion of agricultural innovations within information networks. The present study was conducted at Konkondighi Island in Sunderbans region, West Bengal, India, to study the spread of bitter gourd (Momordica Charantia L.) and sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) cultivation among the farmers of selected villages. Case study method and focused group discussion were used to track this spread of new crop over different generation of cultivators. Data collected through survey method was analysed by sociometric technique and network score of the farmers in the agricultural information network was computed. The fractional ranking of network scores of farmers was compared with their relative earliness in starting bitter gourd and sunflower cultivation. It was observed that in the process of the spread of bitter gourd and sunflower cultivation, most of the farmers who had higher network scores were earlier adopters of bitter gourd and sunflower cultivation practices; but the opposite was not the same. This indicated relations between farmers’ positions in information networks and their adoption-decision regarding the adoption of new crops.technology transfer, agricultural information network, social network analysis, adoption-decision, India

Diffusion, Adoption, and Network Constraint: Can Understanding Personal Networks of Afghan Women Improve the Adoption 0f Agricultural Innovations

A plethora of case studies conducted in myriad locations find that factors influencing the adoption of agricultural innovation are different, emphasizing the need for locality specific understanding (Waddingon 2014). The diffusion of agricultural innovations may be influenced by the structure of the social system in which that diffusion is taking place. This study investigates the social structure of rural Afghan women, in an effort to determine how they interact and exchange information, and how the personal network structure, and the nature of the women’s interaction influences adoption of innovations. With the objective of framing rural development programs targeting women in Afghanistan to maximize potential beneficial effects, the ego- network data of rural Afghan women in 18 villages was collected. Lead-farmers were identified based upon her relative position in her network. The lead-farmers were trained in two agricultural innovations and adoption rate was observed among the women in each Farmer Field School (FFS). Consistent with the literature, a higher adoption rate was observed among the women in the FFS of the lead-farmer with higher brokering indices as compared to those with larger networks or those chosen at random. Contrary to the literature, communication beyond the FFS does not occur. The results of this study indicate that the dense social structure and cultural values in Afghanistan hinder the diffusion of agricultural innovations. The classical diffusion model which promotes trickle-down transfer of technology framework for agricultural development is not appropriate among women in rural Afghanistan. This study suggests that a rural development model in which broker women in the community are identified and trained to implement agricultural innovations, then supported to provide a formal atmosphere in which they transfer that technology to other farmers, is more appropriate

Innovation development and transfer by agricultural development agencies: a case study of cowpea IPM in northern Ghana

This paper draws on data collected during 12 months of fieldwork in Northern Ghana. The fieldwork researched two communities in two districts of Northern Ghana and three Agricultural Development Agencies (ADA); Savanna Agricultural Research Institute (SARI), the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA) and World Vision Ghana (WVG). Data collection was achieved through formal surveys, Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) and observations. A total of 120 individual interviews were conducted for the formal survey guided by the questionnaire. Thirty individual questionnaire- 10 each- were administered to the three ADA–SARI, WVG, and MOFA. Again documentation of activities from the three ADA was gathered. While 275 community members made up of both male and female farmers, elders and traders were involved in five FGD Workshops. This paper focuses on ADAs and innovation development, diffusion and adoption in agriculture and the impact thereof on men and women in increasing agricultural productivity. It further focuses on how agricultural policies influence the processes of innovation development, diffusion and transfer. Results indicate that targeting and getting farmers involved at an early stage in innovation development and transfer is important for any agricultural development programmes and for adoption. Indications were that imbalances in the delivery of extension services had negative impacts on making available appropriate innovations, especially to women farmers. Thus monitoring and evaluation aid the direction of agricultural policies and improve on innovation development and transfer techniques. Again, successful innovation development, transfer and high rates of adoption are the result of good collaborative work; a product of good research planning, monitoring and evaluation and information sharing.Keywords: change agent, extension, agricultural productivity, agricultural policie

The diffusion of fertilizer in Ethiopia: pattern determinants and implications

African Studies Center Working Paper No. 1

What really matters? A qualitative analysis on the adoption of innovations in agriculture

The agricultural industry is confronted with the need of increasing the production to feed a growing population, and contemporarily to manage the decreased availability of natural resources. This major challenge boosts agriculture sector to adopt new approaches and technical innovations; anyway, the adoption of innovations in agriculture is not immediate, due to the interaction of many drivers that impact on individuals and enterprises’ decisions. This paper aims at providing a list of drivers for the adoption of technological innovations in agriculture, on the basis of the outcomes of in-depth interviews and focus groups performed in three European countries (Italy, Greece, Turkey). With specific reference to innovations, ease of use, effectiveness, usefulness, resource savings, and compatibility were mentioned as relevant features for an innovation to be adopted. Trials, demonstrations, experience and knowledge sharing, and support from qualified third parties were included among the facilitating factors for conveying and promoting innovations. Finally, public funding, agricultural policies and market conditions were identified as factors that may tip the balance in the process of innovations’ adoption

Agricultural extension policy in Australia: the good, the bad, and the misguided

In most states of Australia, agricultural extension policies and practices have increasingly been based on considerations of private/public goods, user pays and cost recovery. In addition, the delivery of extension has been strongly influenced by changing administrative structures and a change in the paradigm within which the extension community operates. These changes have had major impacts, including more extension being delivered by the private sector. There are positive aspects to the changes and, for some issues, they are appropriate. However, we have a number of reservations, particularly about the effectiveness of current extension systems in assisting the adoption of complex environmental and farming system technologies.Teaching/Communication/Extension/Profession,

How change agents and social capital influence the adoption of innovations among small farmers: Evidence from social networks in rural Bolivia

"This paper presents results from a study that identified patterns of social interaction among small farmers in three agricultural subsectors in Bolivia—fish culture, peanut production, and quinoa production—and analyzed how social interaction influences farmers' behavior toward the adoption of pro-poor innovations. Twelve microregions were identified, four in each subsector, setting the terrain for an analysis of parts of social networks that deal with the diffusion of specific sets of innovations. Three hundred sixty farmers involved in theses networks as well as 60 change agents and other actors promoting directly or indirectly the diffusion of innovations were interviewed about the interactions they maintain with other agents in the network and the sociodemographic characteristics that influence their adoption behavior. The information derived from this data collection was used to test a wide range of hypotheses on the impact that the embeddedness of farmers in social networks has on the intensity with which they adopt innovations. Evidence provided by the study suggests that persuasion, social influence, and competition are significant influences in the decisions of farmers in poor rural regions in Bolivia to adopt innovations. The results of this study are meant to attract the attention of policymakers and practitioners who are interested in the design and implementation of projects and programs fostering agricultural innovation and who may want to take into account the effects of social interaction and social capital. Meanwhile, scholars of the diffusion of innovations may find evidence to further embrace the complexity and interdependence of social interactions in their models and approaches." from Author's AbstractSocial networks, Agricultural innovation, Change agent, Social capital,