Diffusion Of Agricultural Innovations Research Articles

Application of communication strategies in the diffusion of agricultural innovations and technologies: the case of Amhara Regional Agricultural Research Institute, Ethiopia

Application of communication strategies in the diffusion of agricultural innovations and technologies: the case of Amhara Regional Agricultural Research Institute, Ethiopia

The impact of policies on the diffusion of agricultural innovations: Systematic review on evaluation approaches

The demand for sustainable agricultural technologies still lags behind the supply confirming the demand articulation failure of transformational innovation change agricultural policies. To understand the reasons for demand shortcomings, the evaluation of developed policies is required. In the literature, there is little evidence on this topic, henceforth, this paper conducts a systematic review of the primary methodological approaches used to assess the influence of policies on the dissemination of agricultural innovations. The results showed that there are two clusters of evaluation; the first investigates how policies affect agricultural innovation adoption, and the second studies how policies affect yields and profitability. For the first cluster, 70% of the studies analyzed adoption decisions using the Double-hurdle, Probit, or Tobit models or captured changes in adoption levels over time using the Adoption and Diffusion Outcome Prediction Tool and discrete-time duration models. This cluster is related to the assessment of the input and output additionalities of innovation policies. In 58% of the studies related to the second cluster, the focus was the assessment of economic and environmental implications using mathematical programming models, particularly agent-based modeling. The purpose of evaluation in this cluster is more focused on behavioral additionality. There were no experimental or quasi-experimental methods among the methods utilized in this cluster. The majority of studies do not incorporate the evaluation of economic, social, and environmental aspects together; therefore, evaluation outlooks suggest increasing interest in sustainability impact. It is suggested that models from both clusters be used in combination to explore input, output, and behavioral additionalities simultaneously. Furthermore, including white-box evaluation approaches to evaluate demand-oriented innovation policy in the agricultural sector, in addition to usual black-box approaches, is a necessity.

Theoretical framework and methods for the analysis of the adoption-diffusion of innovations in agriculture: a bibliometric review

The adoption and diffusion of innovations are essential for both the development of production processes and the improvement of agricultural environmental sustainability, at any stage of the value chain. In recent years, social scientists have studied the diffusion and adoption of agricultural innovations from different approaches, such as innovation diffusion theory, behavioral models, econometric models, social capital and social network analysis, among others. In this study we analyze the scientific literature through a bibliometric analysis based on co-citation networks, to explore the theoretical pillars and bibliographic coupling, with which we explore the current methodological research trends of the last 50 years. The conclusions drawn from this analysis are that in recent years agricultural researchers on adoption and diffusion have designed multivariate methods that combine diverse study approaches. This review contributes to a better understanding of theory and practice in the study of the adoption and diffusion of agricultural innovations.

Diffusion of Agricultural Innovations: The Case of Organic Farming in Uttarakhand State of India

Organic agriculture is an innovation among the agricultural production systems having its own unique characteristics thus making it distinct from traditional as well as conventional agricultural production systems. From India, organic food products exports grew by 51 per cent to US$1040 million in 2020-21. The rapid spread of organic agriculture makes an interesting case for analysis particularly in the context of developing countries. This paper has attempted to discuss the diffusion of organic farming in Uttarakhand state of India where promotion of organic farming is taking place systematically through Uttarakhand Organic Commodity Board (UOCB). The various stages of innovation-decision in the process of adoption of organic farming i.e. from knowledge to confirmation by the registered organic farmers have been traced including the factors that played role at every stage. Characteristics like social participation, information access, training received, and experience in organic farming were found having significant association with adoption of organic farming.

Mass Media as a Source of Agricultural Information: An Overview of Literature

This research paper provides a systematic review of published research work by different research scholars regarding the role of communication channels in disseminating agricultural information and the diffusion of agricultural innovations among agriculturists. Findings of review are summarized with the help of reviewing methodology, major findings and implications of earlier published researches. The review depicts that there are significant variations in findings of the relevant researches some certain reasons like geographical, methodological and theoretical perspectives. It is hard to draw any specific conclusion about the role of a different communication channel in the agriculture sector. However, the review has revealed that the different channels of communication have a different role regarding the dissemination of agricultural information and diffusion of innovations amongst farmers.

The Importance of Network Position in the Diffusion of Agricultural Innovations in Smallholders of Dual-Purpose Cattle in Mexico

The dual-purpose bovine production system (DP) is the most widespread small-scale model in Latin American tropics, where it constitutes a key tool in terms of food security. Most DPs are subsistence farms oriented to self-consumption, with a very low technology adoption rate. Hence, the main challenge is how to improve the technological level without compromising the system sustainability by applying land-sharing practices. Thus, through networks methodology, this paper analysed how farmers adopt reproductive technologies. The sample consisted of 383 very small farms of dual-purpose cattle. Seven reproduction technologies oriented to improve reproductive efficiency were evaluated: Breeding soundness evaluation in bulls, semen fertility evaluation, evaluation of female body condition, oestrus detection, pregnancy diagnosis, seasonal or continuous mating, and breeding policy. Social Network Analysis (SNA) allowed identifying adoption patterns, as the joint adoption of semen fertility evaluation, estrus detection, and pregnancy diagnosis, which were consider complementary technologies. Similarly, breeding soundness evaluation in bulls was found to be the most widely adopted technology. The results showed that these farmers presented a very low level of reproduction technology adoption rate and suggested that farmer’s affiliation with organizations such as the Livestock Groups for Technological Validation and Transfer (GGAVATT), and its network position had a significant impact on the level of technological adoption. In the first stage of adoption, this work highlighted the importance of centralized models from the GGAVATT to the farmers, related to the knowledge and absorption dynamic capabilities. In a later stage, decentralized models through technological leaders are a priority, related to integration and innovation dynamic capabilities.

Determinants of adoption of integrated systems by cattle farmers in the State of Sao Paulo, Brazil

The level of diffusion of integrated crop-livestock systems (ICLS) and integrated livestock-forestry systems (ILFS) among cattle farmers in Brazil is still low, despite the environmental and economic benefits and governmental policy support. The present study aims at identifying the factors that determine the adoption of these systems in the State of Sao Paulo, Brazil. The theory of adoption and diffusion of agricultural innovations takes into consideration several economic and non-economic determinants. Data from 175 farms and multinomial logit models were used to test hypotheses on the role played by farms’ scale, farms’ topography, farms’ type of soil, farmers’ knowledge, farmers’ capacity for innovation, availability of local facilities for grain trade, extension service, and credit supply. The results highlighted the important role played by farmers’ human and physical resources when adopting these systems. Knowledge, scalable agricultural land and fixed capital for crop farming being the most relevant ones. Access to credit and extension service helped to overcome lack of physical capital and knowledge. Farmers with innovative capacity were the ones who showed to be more prone to adopt. Availability of local infrastructure for grain trading facilitated the adoption of ICLS. Adoption of ILFS turn out to be an alternative option in slopping land and sandy soils. Results shed light on strategies to accelerate the diffusion of those systems.

Role of the rural television programs in diffusion of agricultural innovations in southern Upper Egypt governorates

Role of the rural television programs in diffusion of agricultural innovations in southern Upper Egypt governorates

Spatial Variation in the Level of Agricultural Development in Mandya District

Agricultural development is multidimensional in nature. There are number of elements influencing on the level of agricultural development in a region. Understanding the spatial and temporal differences in the level of agricultural development and to examine measures their relationships with physical and non-physical factors influencing on levels of development is needed. The main objectives of the selected study are, to study the special pattern of Agricultural Development in Mandya district & to analyze the regional disparities of agricultural development. The present study is based on secondary source of published data for the years 1991 and 2017 obtained from the statistical magazine of Mandya district. For measuring the relative score of various attributes of agricultural development in Mandya district. Standard score technique has been applied (Z-Score). New technologies and commercial crops are adopted to develop agro-economy. For these reason emphases on the diffusion of agricultural innovation are stressed. Therefore, an attempt has been made to identify the spatiotemporal pattern of agricultural development in seven development taluks of Mandya district. Keywords: Agricultural development; Z Score

Farmers’ Demand and the Traits and Diffusion of Agricultural Innovations in Developing Countries

International agricultural research is often motivated by the potential benefits it could bring to smallholder farmers in developing countries. A recent experimental literature has emerged on why innovations resulting from such research, which often focuses on yield enhancement, fail to be adopted due to either external or internal constraints. This article reviews this literature, focusing on the traits of the different technologies and their complexity and distinguishing between yield-enhancing, variance-reducing, and water- or labor-reducing technologies. It also discusses how farmers’ reallocation of inputs and investments when external constraints are lifted suggests that they often do not seek to increase yield or input intensity. The article further reviews evidence indicating that a technology's potential as observed in agronomical trials is not necessarily a good predictor for smallholder farmers’ demands for the technology in real-life conditions. The last section derives conclusions for the research and policy agenda.

Innovation in the UK fresh produce sector: Identifying systemic problems and the move towards systemic facilitation

Innovation has been promoted to help meet the various challenges faced by the UK fresh produce sector. However, what barriers hinder the development and spread of new ideas in the sector have not been investigated. This article explores the social and economic constraints to innovation by combining the agricultural innovation systems (AIS) conceptual framework with a functional-structural analysis. Semi-structured interviews were undertaken with 32 key informants, including growers, agronomists, researchers and representatives from major retailers. The findings show that, whilst the UK fresh produce sector is highly innovative, a number of systemic problems slow or prevent the acquisition and utilisation of knowledge. The privatisation of public extension services has led to a degree of horizontal and vertical fragmentation, with increasingly ‘closed’ groups and lack of nationwide research coordination or guiding visions for the sector. Variation in business size and crop type make coordination or coherent visions challenging to establish, presenting problems for intermediary organisations in matching the supply and demand of agricultural knowledge. At the same time, a stark power asymmetry exists between suppliers and retail customers, whose policies have led to a “defensive” innovation culture and lack of trust – producer organisations represent a response to this asymmetry, as well as increasingly important factor in the (now globalised) development and diffusion of agricultural innovations. Systemic instruments to facilitate better coordination and communication are proposed, such as innovation platforms to bring together otherwise closed groups around common problems and the use of road-mapping to provide a guiding vision for the future of the sector. Retail-led grower groups also provide a means to improve trust between suppliers and customers in the sector and promote new technological trajectories.

Adoptive Behaviors of Farmers After Training and Their Subsequent Diffusive Behaviors In Uasin Gishu County, Kenya

This study focused on Kenyan farmers in the Moiben area who participated in three agricultural seminars at Twiga demonstration farm. The problem of interest was the need for increased dissemination of improved agricultural practices to enhance production and processing of crops related to food security and socio-economic well-being. The study investigated associations between adoptive behaviors of participants and their subsequent behavior related to diffusing improved practices to others. Data was collected using a demographic questionnaire and two structured interview schedules. Correlational analysis was conducted on post-training behavior variables, using Kendall’s tau calculations. The study found that farmers across the samples who exhibited higher levels of adoption of workshop-recommended innovations also had a moderate to strong likelihood of showing correspondingly higher levels of diffusion-related behavior. It was concluded that these findings align well with Rogers’ (2003) discussion of change-agent credibility, and also with Bandura’s (2006) work on social modeling and perceived self-efficacy. It was recommended that offering community-based agricultural seminars such as those in this study be continued and expanded, as an important component in a pluralistic model of agricultural extension methodology for Sub-Saharan Africa. It was further recommended that farmers who adopt improved practices learned in training be identified specifically for further interventions related to implementation and diffusion of agricultural innovations.

Organic farming and international exchange: participant perceptions of North–South transferability

ABSTRACTInstitutions of higher education and work–study abroad programmes have been instrumental in internationalizing sustainable agriculture education. Informal educational opportunities in the form of internships and apprenticeships have become relatively common features of the organic agriculture landscape in the USA. This research examines an international agricultural exchange programme that effectively combines these two emerging fields of study exploring how exchange participants perceive the transferability of their organic farming experience in the USA, to their home countries in Peru and Ecuador. Learning experiences and host farms vary considerably, with some participants being more optimistic than others about how well organic farming practices on their respective farms could be adopted to their home country contexts. While the cross-border/transnational nature of the exchange programme examined is not unique, the inverse flow of people in the exchange (from South to North) examined in this study allows for a new perspective on the value of agricultural exchanges and the perceived transferability of organic farming ideas and practices. Ultimately, this study suggests that the most valuable elements of international agricultural exchange reside not with the diffusion of agricultural innovations, but with how cross-cultural experiential learning promotes critical reflection on place-appropriate production.

Diffusion of agricultural innovation through opinion leadership

Diffusion of agricultural innovation through opinion leadership

India's green revolution: Fact and fallacy

In independent India the first remarkable attempt to agri-rural development has been popularly referred to as ‘green revolution’. This strategy of agri-rural development was based on the idea that traditional agriculture is rain-fed, inefficient and low productive unable to meet the ever rising demand of growing population. Thus, the idea to increase agricultural food production originated from the phenomena of consecutive famines occurred in many parts of India during 1940s. However, diffusion of agricultural innovation of green revolution has brought many undesirable consequences in rural society. Therefore, there is no valid reason to cheer so much about the monumental increase in food grain production. Mere increase in production is not the panacea for all rural social problems. Without a reform in agricultural tax policy, land ownership, credit service, structure and function of society and above all a desirable change in the mind-set of people, policy makers and politicians, no technology, innovation, practice and idea can bring prosperity in rural India. This paper throws light on some of the less discussed issues of India's famous green revolution which must be taken into consideration before kick starting a second green revolution or evergreen revolution based on genetically modified crops, nano-technology, biotechnology, system of rice intensification (SRI), or ground water irrigation, and so on.

How Does Information Network Affect Spread of New Crops? A Study on the Spread of Chilli and Wheat Cultivation Among Farmers of Purulia District, 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 used to formulate some lower order propositions regarding the diffusion of agricultural innovations within networks. The present study was conducted at Purulia District in West Bengal, India, to study the spread of Chilli (Capsicum annum) and Wheat (Triticum aestivum) cultivation among the farmers of selected villages. Case study method and focused group discussion were used to track this spread over different generations of adopters. Data collected through structured questionnaire was analysed by sociometric technique and network score of farmers in the agricultural information network was computed. The fractional ranking of network scores of farmers was compared with their relative earliness in the spread of Chilli and Wheat cultivation. It was found that both in the spread of Chilli and Wheat cultivation, most of the farmers who had higher network scores were earlier adopters of Chilli and Wheat cultivation practices but the reverse was not true. This indicated the complex relations between farmers’ adoption-decision regarding new crops and their network positions. Further empirical research will be required to put light on this observation.

Modelling the faddish, fashionable and efficient diffusion of agricultural technologies: A case study of the diffusion of wool testing technology in Australia

This study investigates the nature of innovation diffusion in an agricultural context. The dominant agricultural diffusion models assume that an economically rational choice is made to adopt or reject agricultural technologies. However, recent studies of agricultural innovation highlight the ‘irrational’ and potentially ‘inefficient’ nature of the diffusion in this context. To investigate how and why agricultural technologies are adopted or rejected, we examine the diffusion of wool testing technologies in the Australian wool industry using the Bass diffusion model and Abrahamson's diffusion and rejection typology. The results show that diffusion of agricultural innovation is not simply an efficient choice made to close observable performance gaps. The findings suggest that the adoption of inefficient innovations and the rejection of efficient innovations can be driven by an adopter's social context, powerful external influences and imitation within an adopter group and that these drivers change over time, suggesting an evolutionary social process underlies the diffusion of agricultural technologies.

HOW CAN AGRICULTURE RESEARCH MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN COUNTRIES EMERGING FROM CONFLICT?

SUMMARYConflict is the most common cause of food insecurity. Foreign aid to countries emerging from conflict often allows a funded but brief window for the confirmation-testing and diffusion of agricultural innovation in affected areas. This paper asks the question: what lessons has agricultural research learned through its involvement in this process in countries emerging from conflict? Drawing on experience from Afghanistan and other countries, this paper documents some cases in which it has been possible to inject an element of simple hypothesis testing, often in farmer-managed trials, into post-conflict plans leading to useful lessons. Agricultural researchers need to be cognizant of this approach so that the practice becomes more widely used and lessons recorded for future use.

Adoption of conservation tillage in Australian cropping regions: An application of duration analysis

The diffusion of agricultural innovations is rarely rapid. As a result, adoption decisions over time are very likely to be influenced by changes in generic factors such as the price of complementary inputs and environmental conditions. Despite this, the vast majority of studies aiming to explain innovation adoption are limited to cross-sectional data and analysis techniques that cannot accommodate time-dependent variables. This study departs from these attempts by using a duration analysis technique to investigate the significance of time-dependent economic and environmental variables, along with cross-sectional variables such as technology-specific perceptions, on the adoption of soil-conserving cropping practices by grain growers in southern Australia over the period 1983–2003. Of particular interest is the possible trade-off faced by farmers where adoption of no-tillage cropping technology can lead to greater herbicide reliance and subsequently unsustainable weed management due to high risks of herbicide resistance. Results show that factors affecting the cost-effectiveness of herbicides are important in the adoption of the erosion-reducing cropping systems. Several factors relating to the availability and use of technical information are also shown to be influential. The duration analysis approach allowed changes in time-dependent variables, including the fall in the price of the herbicide glyphosate, to be identified as determinants of the timing of no-till adoption.

Externality Effects of Education: Dynamics of the Adoption and Diffusion of an Innovation in Rural Ethiopia

Abstract This article investigates the role of schooling at the household and community levels in the adoption and diffusion of agricultural innovations in rural Ethiopia. We find that household‐level education is important to the timing of adoption but less crucial to the question of whether a household has ever adopted fertilizer (since those without schooling may eventually copy the educated). Community‐level education substitutes for low levels of household education, encouraging uneducated farmers to adopt sooner than would be predicted in the absence of educated neighbors. Moreover, community‐level education is complementary to household education in determining which farmers will eventually adopt. Thus, evidence is presented to suggest that there are two externality effects: educated farmers are early innovators, providing an example that may be copied by less‐educated farmers; and educated farmers are better able to copy those who innovate first, enhancing diffusion of the new technology more wide...