Diffusion of Agricultural Technologies through Social Network Analysis in Selected Villages of Bihar, India

Diffusion of innovative research has a large impact on extension practice. Innovation is understood as an idea, practice or object that is perceived as new by an individual or other unit of adoption. Information on technology adoption and diffusion in a given society is important for focusing future research, extension-related development efforts aiming at benefiting majority of Bihar farmers. The identification of the roles of social networks that influence technology adoption and diffusion is important to identify and design measures to remove or alleviate the constraints affecting diffusion of innovation. This study was undertaken in three villages in Sameli block in Katihar District of Bihar. The extent of functional contributions of social networks and their implications in the diffusion of maize close-spacing variety (P3522) and identification of options for enhancing the role and sustainability of these social networks for promoting agricultural technology in the study area was the focus of this study. A multistage sampling procedure was employed to select respondents from 90 sample households from three villages in khaira panchayat, from which three group discussions were conducted. Both qualitative and quantitative data were used to obtain reliable information from primary and secondary sources. Data analysis was done using sociometric matrix, percentage and frequency, mean and standard deviation and co-efficient of variation using Ucinet software. The study revealed that relatives, friends, neighbours and input dealers were the most important nodes of information source for seed and planting material (SPM) sources, and they were influential networks in the adoption and diffusion of maize close-spacing variety (P3522). The findings revealed that the highest ties were fertiliser/pesticide and plant protection network (294), followed by government scheme/programme (252), irrigation (235), animal husbandry, market information, credit (213), agricultural package of practices (205) and SPM (202) ties.