Abstract
A quantitative approach is used to examine the relationship between social network ties and farmers’ decisions regarding adoption of improved groundnut varieties. The main findings are that farmers: (a) used external sources (i.e., weak ties) to learn about new improved groundnut varieties; (b) engaged in individual farm trials to gain experience (learning by doing); and (c) use both external sources and close associates (i.e., strong-ties) within their social network to acquire technical information about improved varieties.
Keywords
social networks; technology adoption; groundnuts
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial 4.0 License
Recommended Citation
Thuo, M.,
Bell, A.,
&
Bravo-Ureta, B.
(2011).
Transforming Rural Agricultural Systems in Sub-Saharan Africa: What Role do Social Networks Play?.
Adult Education Research Conference.
https://newprairiepress.org/aerc/2011/roundtables/18
Transforming Rural Agricultural Systems in Sub-Saharan Africa: What Role do Social Networks Play?
A quantitative approach is used to examine the relationship between social network ties and farmers’ decisions regarding adoption of improved groundnut varieties. The main findings are that farmers: (a) used external sources (i.e., weak ties) to learn about new improved groundnut varieties; (b) engaged in individual farm trials to gain experience (learning by doing); and (c) use both external sources and close associates (i.e., strong-ties) within their social network to acquire technical information about improved varieties.
