The document discusses the diffusion and adoption of innovations in agricultural development, outlining the processes through which new ideas are communicated and implemented among social systems. It details the stages of the adoption process, factors influencing adoption, and categorization of adopters based on innovativeness. Key elements affecting the decision to adopt innovations include personal, situational, and social factors.

1. Role of Diffusion and
Adoption of Innovations
in Agricultural
Development
Rajinder Kaur Kalra
Professor and Head (Retired)
PAU Ludhiana 9814067709

2. Diffusion
Process by which innovations spread
to the members of a social system.

3. Diffusion process
• Spread of a new idea from its source of
invention to its ultimate users or adopters.

4. Adoption
decision to make full use of a new
idea. In other words the adoption
process is the mental process through
which an individual passes from first
hearing about an innovation to final
adoption.

5. Adoption process
• Decision making process goes through a
number of mental stages before making a
final decision to adopt an innovation

6. Innovation
 An idea, practice or object that is perceived
as new by an individual
 Perception: activity through which an
individual become aware of objects around
oneself and of event taking place

7. Diffusion of Innovation
 Innovation spread within the social system
called diffusion
 An innovation however, diffusion within the
social system through its adoption by
individual and groups

8. Elements in diffusion process
 Innovation
 Communication channels
 Time
 Social system
 System norms
 Opinion leadership and change agents

9. Types of innovation decisions
 Optional innovation-decision
 Collective innovation
 Authority innovation

10. Consequences of innovation
 Desirable versus undesirable
 Direct versus indirect
 Anticipated versus unanticipated

11. Adoption : decision to continue full
use of innovation
Adoption Process: mental process through which an individual
passes from first hearing about an innovatio
to final adoption.
Adoption Period : length of the time required for an
individual to pass through the adoption
process from awareness to adoption

12. Stages of Adoption
Awareness
Interest
Evaluation
Trial
Adoption

13. Other model of adoption process
“Singh and pink” (1975)
1. Need
2. Awareness
3. Interest
4. Deliberation
5. Trail
6. Evaluation
7. Adoption

14. Innovation-decision process
Knowledge Persuasion Decision Implementation Confirmation
Adoption Continued Adoption

15. • Rejection : decision not to adopt an innovation
1. Active rejection
2. Passive rejection
• Dissonance: uncomfortable state of mind
• Discontinuance: decision to reject an innovation after having
previously adopted it.
1. Replacement discontinuance
2. Disenchantment discontinuance
3. Forced discontinuance
• Over adoption
• Innovation decision period: length of time required to pass
through the innovation-decision process
early adopter have a shorter innovation-decision period

16. Categories of Adopters
Innovators
Early adopters
Early Majority
Late Majority
Laggards

17. Innovators
2.5%
Early
Adopters
13.5%
Early
Majority
34%
Late
Majority
34%
Laggards
16%
Adopter Categorization on
the basis of innovativeness
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18. Attribute of innovation
 Relative Advantage: degree to which an
innovation is perceived as better than the idea it
supersedes.
 Compatibility: degree to which an innovation is
perceived consistent with the existing values, past
experiences and need of the receives.
 Complexity: degree to which an innovation is
perceived as relatively difficult to understand and
use.

19. • Trailability: degree to which an innovation may be
experimented with on a limited basis before deciding to adopt.
• Observability: degree to which the results of an innovation are
visible/observable, demonstrable and communicable to farmers
• Predictability: degree or certainty of receiving expected
benefits from the adoption of an innovation

20. Factors influencing adoption of
innovation
 Personal Factors
1. Age
2. Education
3. Psychological characteristics
4. Values and attributes
 Situational Factor
1. Nature of the practices
2. Farm income

21. 3. Size of farm
4. Tenure status
5. Level of living
 Social factor
1. Social values

22. THANKS