Patterns and determinants of adoption of farm practices: Some evidence from Bangladesh

Abstract

This paper investigates whether opinion leaders and their followers differ in adopting certain current and potential recommended farm practices. Also studied is the innovativeness of the opinion leaders and factors associated with the adoption of agricultural practices. The paper is based upon farm-level data obtained from a remote area in Bangladesh, and is derived from employing the snow-ball sampling procedure. Overall extent of adoption between opinion leaders and followers did not differ significantly. The adoption of the high-yielding variety of wheat by the bigger number of opinion leaders was the only exception. The trend of adoption followed a predictive sequential and rational basis rather than a practice adopted apparently at random. A natural social mechanism was identified as playing a determining role in the selection of the opinion leaders in the community. Opinion leaders, regarded as important in influencing behaviour of other farmers, were not found to be innovators in terms of adopting farm practices. Of the 14 independent variables studied, 12 correlated significantly with the adoption of farm practices. Regression analysis showed that farm income emerged as the most important predictor of adoption of farm practices. Social factors of cosmopoliteness and family background were two other important factors. Extension workers need to introduce familiar, interrelated and appropriate practices for different income groups of farmers. Furthermore, to achieve the successful transfer of technologies the local social system needs to be appreciated and maintained.