Diffusion and Adoption of Agricultural Technology among the Farmer Households : A Study of Farmer Households in Kuttanad, Kerala

Abstract

In the modernization of the farm sector, mechanization and the use of technology matter a lot. But, the success of farm technology depends on its diffusion and adoption by the farmers. This article looks into the level of technology adoption by the farmers and examines the socio-economic factors that determine the categorization of farmers into different levels of technology adopters. The study reveals that technology gets diffused mainly through neighbours, relatives, and opinion leaders (Localite Channels). It also shows that variables like age, education, and size of landholding are significantly associated with the adoption of technology by the farmers. It also suggests that for technology adoption to be successful, farmers must be properly educated, and fragmentation of land should be discouraged.