Review article

CONCEPTS IN RESEARCHES OF AGRICULTURAL INNOVATIONS

Ruža First-Dilić

Abstract

Since agriculture is becoming more complex and the problem of adaptation
more acute, there is a distinct rise in the awareness of the process which influences
the individual to accept new ideas, methods and developments, and to adopt
these changes to their household and individual family needs. In each society
where agriculture actively participates in creating social production, it is most
interesting to study the process of diffusion and adoption of agricultural innovations.
Such investigations have been numerous; there were 941 empirical research
works in the world by 1967.
However, in spite of this ast amount of empirical material and important
theoretical forms, there is still an obvious need for further conceptual clarification.
The goal of this work is to provide further explanation of some substantial
concepts in the research of agricultural innovations, the concept of innovation
and elements for the adoption process of agricultural innovations, with special
reflection on the phases, categories of adopters and bases of innovativeness.
Definitions of the concepts of innovation are often tautological, subjectivic,
and alienated in a certain way from the potential adopter of innovation. The
social usefulness and justifiability of innovation are neglected, as well as its
function as an agent in the changing of local society in which it has been diffused
and adopted. The adopted innovation, although it progresses as a macro
and micro unit, actually can lead to strengthening economic and social differences
between the innovation of the interlocked micro ifnit and that in which relations
of innovation are still not defined, such as between the adopter and non-adopter
of these innovations within the local environment. The implication of adopting
the innovation is in contrast to that progressive element in a socially useful
innovation.

Keywords

Hrčak ID:

118942

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/118942

Publication date:

11.9.1974.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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