CONDITIONANT FACTORS OF ADOPTION OF TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATIONS IN AGRICULTURE

Abstract

Technology plays an important role in determining the economic and financial performance of rural settlements. However, the diffusion of technology is not uniform, that is, does not occur with the same speed and intensity among farmers and regions. Why do some farmers adopt innovations and others do not? Why do some farmers adopt an innovation earlier than others? What are the factors that explain their decisions? This article presents a literature review on four sets of factors related to such decisions: a) socio-economic condition and characteristics of the farmers; b) characteristics of production and rural properties; c) characteristics of the technology; d) systemic factors. These factors interact with one another to promote or inhibit technology adoption. Understanding and controlling a variable do not guarantee the success of policies for technology diffusion. It is desirable to design public policies that are flexible and adaptable to the peculiarities and demands of communities, so that they take into consideration their different technical, social and economic configurations.