THE DIFFUSION OF CULTIVATOR MACHINE INNOVATION

Abstract

The development of the agricultural sector is carried out as an attempt to implement changes leading to economic growth and public welfare. The diffusion of agricultural innovations is a pivotal issue that needs to be addressed in the development. This research aims at describing the diffusion stages of cultivator machine innovation and scrutinizing the effect of innovation characteristics on cultivator machine adoption on vegetable farmers in Banyuroto Village, Sawangan Subdistrict, Magelang Regency. The data were collected by means of questionnaires, direct and phone interviews, and observation. The data were analyzed using two methods, i.e., descriptive analysis and multiple linear regression analysis. The findings showed that the diffusion stages of cultivator machine innovation began with an initial stage of promoting knowledge of cultivator machine through training provided by agricultural extension agents to Karya Makmur’s Livestock Farmer Group in 2017, followed by process of persuasion (i.e., the response of farmers’ interest to cultivator machines). The decision stage was indicated by the attitude of adopting or rejecting the cultivator machine innovation. Furthermore, the implementation stage began with the use of cultivator machines for cultivating the land in 2019. Lastly, the confirmation stage was in the form of repeated use. The results of the statistical analysis demonstrated that innovation characteristics simultaneously influenced cultivator machine adoption. The variables influencing cultivator machine adoption were relative advantages, trialability, and observability. Meanwhile, the variables that did not influence were compatibility and complexity.