Innovation and the Diffusion of Technology in Agriculture in Floodplains in the State of Amazonas

Petry, Jonas Fernando; Sebastião, Sabrina Arcanjo; Martins, Erik Garcia; Barros, Paulo Berti de Azevedo

doi:10.1590/1982-7849rac2019190024

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Articles • Rev. adm. contemp. 23 (5) • Sep-Oct 2019 • https://doi.org/10.1590/1982-7849rac2019190024 copy

Innovation and the Diffusion of Technology in Agriculture in Floodplains in the State of Amazonas

Authorship SCIMAGO INSTITUTIONS RANKINGS

Abstract

There is a vast literature on innovation and diffusion of technology in Agribusiness. The dominant explanation of dissemination of innovations emphasizes processes involving information flows through a social system. Research questions on innovation and diffusion of technology transcend conventional disciplinary boundaries. This article’s objective is to investigate innovation and diffusion of technology in the context of agriculture in floodplains in provincial Amazonas, Brazil. A set of propositions were defined, focusing on factors that impact on the conceptualization of the process of innovation and diffusion. A qualitative research approach was employed, based on semi-structured interviews. In this study, the analytical stages of the mental process of diffusion do not determine adoption of innovation. The results suggest that the supply-side competitive environment, in conjunction with the influence of agribusiness, technical support, a development-oriented political agenda, university projects, and practices in the field can facilitate diffusion of technologies. This paper seeks to extend the current paradigm of understanding of innovations and diffusion, incorporating factors that apply in a specific agricultural context, suggesting elements that, if stimulated, can be communicated and assimilated within a social system.

Keywords:
innovation and technology diffusion; adoption of technology; agricultural production by riverine people; agriculture in floodplains; the Amazon - Brazil

Stages	Sequence of stages	What happens in the field of research?
Awareness stage	The farmer becomes aware of a new idea. He knows about the existence of the idea, but he lacks details. For example, the farmer knows the name of a new product, technology, or seed, but does not know how this information works, or what he should do.	Normally, awareness is the result of specific television programs. Rural extension programs are sporadic.
Interest stage	At this stage, the farmer wants more information about the idea, product, or seed, etc. He wants to know how it works and what its potentialities are. He is convinced that this idea might help him increase his income, or help him control pests or diseases, or improve farming or home life in some way.	Farmers identify what the specific product, seed, or technique is.
Evaluation stage	The farmer makes a mental judgment of the idea, He applies the information obtained in the previous stages to his own situation. This stage involves questions such as "Can I do this and if I do it, will it be better than what I am doing now- will it increase my income, or will it help to maximize any other values that I hold important ?"	What is the new idea for? Fifteen farmers interviewed in the municipal district of São Paulo de Olivença did not provide any information that indicated they had proceeded to the next two stages.
Trial stage	This is a stage in which the farmer decides that the idea has possibilities; he will adopt it. The trial stage is characterized by small-scale experimental use, and by a need for specific information to deal with: "How do I do it? How much do I use? When do I do it? How can I make it work for me?" The farmer needs to test the new idea even though he has thought about it for a long time and has collected information about it.	A small number of interviewees managed to proceed to the trial stage. The interviewees from the area where the trial of the hybrid water melon seed was conducted only managed to progress to this stage because they were involved in an extension project. For other crops and techniques they had stagnated at stages 1 and 2.
Adoption stage	This is the final stage in the process. This stage is characterized by continued large-scale use of the idea and, more than anything, by satisfaction with the idea. This does not mean that a person who has accepted an idea must use it constantly. It means that the farmer has accepted the idea as good and that he intends to include it in his on-going program.	While interviewees from the municipal district of São Paulo de Olivença did report adoption of new ideas, this was not observed in practice. In order to avoid interviewer biases, a neighbor was invited to check the information, which was not confirmed. The exception was the group that took part in the experiment with the hybrid watermelon seed. All of the farmers on the island of São José had already accepted the idea and had abandoned the traditional seeds and practices.

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[1] Jonas Fernando Petry Av. General Rodrigo Octavio Jordão Ramos, 1200, Coroado I, 69067-005, Manaus, AM, Brasil E-mail address: jonaspetry@brturbo.com.br https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8901-1990