A Study of the Relative Importance of Communication and Economic Variables in Diffusion: Dwarf Wheats on Unirrigated Small Holdings in Pakistan.

Autor/in	Rochin, Refugio I.
Titel	A Study of the Relative Importance of Communication and Economic Variables in Diffusion: Dwarf Wheats on Unirrigated Small Holdings in Pakistan.
Quelle	(1972), (32 Seiten) PDF als Volltext kostenfreie Datei Verfügbarkeit
Dokumenttyp	gedruckt; online; Monographie
Schlagwörter	Agricultural Production; Bibliographies; Communication (Thought Transfer); Economic Factors; Extension Education; Farm Management; Farmers; Information Dissemination; Innovation; Interpersonal Relationship; Mass Media; Rural Extension; Speeches; Statistical Data; Surveys; Pakistan + Suchen Sie Ihr Suchwort? Agriculture; Production; Landwirtschaft; Produktion; Agrarproduktion; Landwirtschaftliche Produktion; Communication; thought; Kommunikation; Gedanke; Ökonomischer Faktor; Erweitertes Bildungsangebot; Farmer; Agriculturist; Landwirt; Landwirtin; Informationsverbreitung; Interpersonal relation; Interpersonal relations; Interpersonelle Beziehung; Zwischenmenschliche Beziehung; Massenmedien; Survey; Umfrage; Befragung
Abstract	The purpose of this paper is twofold: (1) it presents some empirical findings of the relative importance of both "economic" and "communication" variables in the diffusion of an innovation (dwarf wheats) in an unirrigated region of Pakistan which is densely populated by smallholders. The sample of farmers reported are representative of a class of low-income farmers who were supposedly left out of the benefits of the Green Revolution; and (2) it attempts to generate a nexus of opinion between the "development economist" and the "communication specialist." The study data presented show that both "communication" and "economic" variables are necessary for two main aspects of diffusion: (1) changing farmers' cognitions of new varieties of seed, and (2) influencing innovativeness. It was also found in this study that any program designed to diffuse agricultural innovations must first concentrate on creating awareness among smallholders in general; and (3) the smallholders live in such a situation that cognitive changes in knowledge must accompany economically desirable innovations in order to have a rapid pattern of adoption. For guides in designing future programs, the following are suggested: (1) Channels of communication between research outlets and farmers should be strengthened so that smallholders are kept informed of available innovations; and (2) Since interpersonal contacts are especially needed to reach the smallest farmers, extension efforts should be enhanced. (Author/DB)
Erfasst von	ERIC (Education Resources Information Center), Washington, DC