Answer to Question #218591 in Civil and Environmental Engineering for Nyaboke

Question

Discuss the factors that affect the adoption of new irrigation technologies

Answer 1

Various factors influence the extent of technology adoption, including the technology's characteristics or attributes; the adopters or clientele who are the object of change; the change agent (extension worker, professional); and the socioeconomic, biological, and physical environment in which the technology occurs. Farmers have been identified as a key impediment to progress. They are either trailblazers or laggards. Farmers' socio-psychological characteristics are essential. Adoption was positively associated with age, education attainment, income, family size, tenure position, credit utilization, value system, and beliefs. Credibility, having excellent relationships with farmers, intellect, expressive ability, honesty, resourcefulness, capacity to interact with farmers, persuasiveness, and development orientation are some of the personal qualities of extension workers. The biophysical environment has an impact on adoption. The farm's circumstances include its location, resource availability, and other amenities such as roads, markets, transportation, pests, rainfall distribution, soil type, water, services, and power. Farmers on irrigated fields, for example, were among the first to embrace new rice varieties, while those without water were among the last. If the product price is low, innovation spreads slowly.