2013 年 4 巻 2 号 p. 44-49
In this paper we consider whether the processes of farm-level change and adoption of new technologies in Cambodia can be related to the adoptability characteristics of a technology. The literature posits that technologies can be assessed in terms of relative advantage, compatibility, complexity, trialability and observability. Other socio-economic factors may also be important in the adoption process. We test these propositions among commercial upland farmers in north-west Cambodia for rhizobium inoculation of legume seeds to increase crop yields. In promoting this technology the objective is to increase farm income and help to reduce poverty and improve food security. We surveyed farmers who have been involved in a project testing and demonstrating rhizobium inoculation (along with other technologies) and statistically analyzed the results. We found that, with respect to their rhizobium-adoption intentions, relative advantage (incentive) is the predominant characteristic, with observability also being important. Other socio-economic characteristics in their adoption, intentions included whether they grew legumes, the source of first contact, the period since the technology was introduced, and the size of farm. That the innovation demonstrated high relative advantage was confirmed by separate economic analysis of the likely return on investment for rhizobium in these upland farming systems. Using an approach of assessing adoptability characteristics prior to release provides a basis for developing and screening technologies for successful adoption, rather than trying to adapt ill-suited (in terms of these characteristics) technologies after the event. Such an approach is likely to be more efficient for project sponsors to achieve desirable change.
