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The Contribution of Individual and Group Social Networks to Knowledge Diffusion among Farmers in semi-arid Kenya
BibTeX
@MISC{Darr_thecontribution,
author = {Dietrich Darr},
title = {The Contribution of Individual and Group Social Networks to Knowledge Diffusion among Farmers in semi-arid Kenya},
year = {}
}
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Abstract
Following the radical change of the extension sector in eastern Africa that was triggered by the disproving of the traditional ‘Transfer of Technology ’ paradigm in the 1990s, a number of competing and largely decentralized extension approaches have been developed. Basing upon the hypothesis that innovative arrangements and practices emerge from social interaction rather than from the traditional technology development chain, most of those new approaches aim to facilitate exchange and networking among farmers, research and extension organizations. From the coexistence of traditional and alternative approaches arise the need for, and the opportunity of comparative evaluation and impact assessments. The paper investigates the diffusion of innovative farm management technologies in two rural development projects that follow dissimilar extension approaches. Household and community-level social networks represent the analytical levels of analysis. A full sample of 433 households has been interviewed in West Pokot and Makueni Districts of Kenya. Primary data was collected using semi-structured questionnaires, expert interviews, group discussions and rankings, as well as observation. Data was analyzed employing sociometric and statistical software packages. Farm household innovativeness is related to the household communication networks, as well as to the activities of
Keyphrases
semi-arid kenya knowledge diffusion group social network dissimilar extension approach comparative evaluation radical change new approach semi-structured questionnaire technology paradigm community-level social network household communication network decentralized extension approach traditional transfer rural development project full sample group discussion makueni district innovative arrangement west pokot farm household innovativeness impact assessment extension organization analytical level expert interview primary data extension sector eastern africa statistical software package alternative approach innovative farm management technology traditional technology development chain social interaction
