Social networking amid social differentiation in the adoption of improved technologies: A case study in Rajasthan, India

This paper evaluates the role of social networks in the adoption of mustard hybrids. The objectives of the paper are (i) to examine how the farmer’s adoption decision relates to the adoption choices of their network members particularly in case of hybrids; (ii) to test whether the lower-caste (Sched...

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Main Authors: Varshney, Deepak, Joshi, Pramod Kumar, Roy, Devesh
Format: Artículo preliminar
Language:Inglés
Published: International Food Policy Research Institute 2019
Subjects:
Online Access:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/145756
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author Varshney, Deepak
Joshi, Pramod Kumar
Roy, Devesh
author_browse Joshi, Pramod Kumar
Roy, Devesh
Varshney, Deepak
author_facet Varshney, Deepak
Joshi, Pramod Kumar
Roy, Devesh
author_sort Varshney, Deepak
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description This paper evaluates the role of social networks in the adoption of mustard hybrids. The objectives of the paper are (i) to examine how the farmer’s adoption decision relates to the adoption choices of their network members particularly in case of hybrids; (ii) to test whether the lower-caste (Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribe [SC/ST]) farmers relied more on social networks for information as compared to the higher-caste (non-SC/ST) farmers; and (iii) to explore whether social network effects are more pronounced when farmers interact within their caste as compared to outside the caste, the issue of homophily versus heterophily. The paper follows the model of social learning in Bandiera and Rasul (2006) extended by introducing the individual level covariates of network members. Further, we try to address endogeneity concerns by including village fixed effects and by analyzing the social network effects in a dynamic adoption framework. We establish evidence of endogenous effects in the adoption choices of hybrids i.e. more pronounced for the lower caste (schedule caste/tribe) vis-a-vis the higher caste. Further, network effects are stronger with homophily within the same caste.
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spelling CGSpace1457562025-11-06T07:05:28Z Social networking amid social differentiation in the adoption of improved technologies: A case study in Rajasthan, India Varshney, Deepak Joshi, Pramod Kumar Roy, Devesh social networks agricultural technology hybrids farmers farm income diffusion of information smallholders innovation adoption caste systems This paper evaluates the role of social networks in the adoption of mustard hybrids. The objectives of the paper are (i) to examine how the farmer’s adoption decision relates to the adoption choices of their network members particularly in case of hybrids; (ii) to test whether the lower-caste (Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribe [SC/ST]) farmers relied more on social networks for information as compared to the higher-caste (non-SC/ST) farmers; and (iii) to explore whether social network effects are more pronounced when farmers interact within their caste as compared to outside the caste, the issue of homophily versus heterophily. The paper follows the model of social learning in Bandiera and Rasul (2006) extended by introducing the individual level covariates of network members. Further, we try to address endogeneity concerns by including village fixed effects and by analyzing the social network effects in a dynamic adoption framework. We establish evidence of endogenous effects in the adoption choices of hybrids i.e. more pronounced for the lower caste (schedule caste/tribe) vis-a-vis the higher caste. Further, network effects are stronger with homophily within the same caste. 2019-03-21 2024-06-21T09:04:59Z 2024-06-21T09:04:59Z Working Paper https://hdl.handle.net/10568/145756 en Open Access application/pdf International Food Policy Research Institute Varshney, Deepak; Joshi, Pramod Kumar; and Roy, Devesh. 2019. Social networking amid social differentiation in the adoption of improved technologies: A case study in Rajasthan, India. IFPRI Discussion Paper 1817. Washington, DC: International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI). https://hdl.handle.net/10568/145756
spellingShingle social networks
agricultural technology
hybrids
farmers
farm income
diffusion of information
smallholders
innovation adoption
caste systems
Varshney, Deepak
Joshi, Pramod Kumar
Roy, Devesh
Social networking amid social differentiation in the adoption of improved technologies: A case study in Rajasthan, India
title Social networking amid social differentiation in the adoption of improved technologies: A case study in Rajasthan, India
title_full Social networking amid social differentiation in the adoption of improved technologies: A case study in Rajasthan, India
title_fullStr Social networking amid social differentiation in the adoption of improved technologies: A case study in Rajasthan, India
title_full_unstemmed Social networking amid social differentiation in the adoption of improved technologies: A case study in Rajasthan, India
title_short Social networking amid social differentiation in the adoption of improved technologies: A case study in Rajasthan, India
title_sort social networking amid social differentiation in the adoption of improved technologies a case study in rajasthan india
topic social networks
agricultural technology
hybrids
farmers
farm income
diffusion of information
smallholders
innovation adoption
caste systems
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/145756
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AT joshipramodkumar socialnetworkingamidsocialdifferentiationintheadoptionofimprovedtechnologiesacasestudyinrajasthanindia
AT roydevesh socialnetworkingamidsocialdifferentiationintheadoptionofimprovedtechnologiesacasestudyinrajasthanindia