The Role of Crop Production Clubs in the Tecnology Transfer Process
Date
1991
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
ORCID
Type
Degree Level
Masters
Abstract
This study was undertaken to determine if crop production club members
represent an adopter category of the adoption diffusion theory as outlined by
the literature, to obtain a more detailed description of the characteristics of
the crop production club members and how they relate to the adopter
categories and to determine the role crop production clubs play in the
technology transfer process. A telephone survey was conducted using two
groups, one selected from crop production clubs that had been organized for
more than five years and the other a stratified random sample of non-club
farmers in the surrounding area to the clubs. The questionnaire was
designed to obtain information about innovative cropping practices, as well
as demographic data, personal characteristics and communication behavior.
A total of 38 crop production club members and 28 non-club farmers were
contacted between April 22 and May 10, 1991.
The results of the study found that the characteristics exhibited by crop
production club members were similar to those outlined in the adoptiondiffusion
theory for early adopters. Therefore crop production club members
fit into the adoption-diffusion process as early adopters. Crop clubs use
demonstrations as a way of introducing new innovations to their club
members. Both groups indicated that they used neighbors often as a source
of information and therefore, crop production club members likely transfer
information to others through this and other channels. They transfer technology through the adoption-diffusion process as early adopters. From
this study it can be concluded that crop production clubs do play a role in the
technology transfer process.
Description
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Citation
Degree
Master of Agriculture (M.Agr.)
Department
College of Agriculture
Program
College of Agriculture