Sociology and Space, No. 53-54, 1976.
Original scientific paper
BASIC TRENDS IN THE DIFFUSION OF INNOVATIONS ON PRIVATE SMALLHOLDINGS IN SLAVONIA AND VOIVODINA
Milan Benc
Abstract
The beginnings of the diffusion of innovations date from the time of the agrarian
and the slightly later industrial revolution. In Slavonia and Voivodina this
process started comparatively earlier than it did in other parts of Yugoslavia because
it was set in motion by government regulations of the Austro-Hungarian
Monarchy. i.*i
Stuay of the process of the diffusion of innovations in private agri
culture reveals the following periods: (a) the period of the agrarian revolution:
introduction of new cultures and combining livestock breeding with
land cultivation; (b) the period of the industrial revolution: introduction of machinery
and new technologies (in Yugoslavia this started in the 1930s); (c) the period
after the second world war: widespread use of machinery and new technologies,
and (since 1965) a rapidly growing amount of machinery bought by private smallholders.
The paper gives a graphic presentation of the basic trends in the adoption of
innovations in private agriculture in Slavonia and Voivodina. Analysis by means of
the inter-correlation matrix reveals that modern land cultivation techniques are
more widespread on smallholdings which rent farm machinery than on those
which possess such machinery. This is probably due to the fact that the peasant,
because of the comparatively small area of his land and though he may possess a
tractor, is perhaps not in a position, or does not find it profitable, to equip his farm
with all attachable implements. Data further reveal a very thin distribution of
modem storage and cold storage facilities and irrigation techniques on private
smallholdings. In conclusion the author points out that innovations could actually
be diffused in private agriculture at a faster rate through the process of selfmanagement
association in agriculture.
Keywords
Hrčak ID:
119000
URI
Publication date:
8.12.1976.
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