How Change Agents and Social Capital Influence the Adoption of Innovations among Small Farmers: Evidence from Social Networks in Rural Bolivia

Mario Monge, Frank Hartwich, Daniel S. Halgin, Monge, Mario, Hartwich, Frank, Halgin, Daniel · 2008 · AgEcon Search (University of Minnesota, USA)

Summary. Small farmers in Bolivia adopt agricultural innovations through social networks and the influence of change agents. The study examined three agricultural sectors—fish culture, peanut production, and quinoa production—surveying 360 farmers and 60 change agents across twelve microregions. Persuasion, social influence, and competition significantly shape farmers' decisions to adopt pro-poor innovations. Social capital and network embeddedness directly affect adoption intensity, suggesting policymakers should design agricultural programs accounting for social interaction effects.

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@article{monge-2008-how-change-agents-social-capital,
  title   = {How Change Agents and Social Capital Influence the Adoption of Innovations among Small Farmers: Evidence from Social Networks in Rural Bolivia},
  author  = {Mario Monge and Frank Hartwich and Daniel S. Halgin and Monge, Mario and Hartwich, Frank and Halgin, Daniel},
  journal = {AgEcon Search (University of Minnesota, USA)},
  year    = {2008},
  doi     = {10.22004/ag.econ.42330},
  url     = {https://doi.org/10.22004/ag.econ.42330}
}

TY  - JOUR
TI  - How Change Agents and Social Capital Influence the Adoption of Innovations among Small Farmers: Evidence from Social Networks in Rural Bolivia
AU  - Mario Monge
AU  - Frank Hartwich
AU  - Daniel S. Halgin
AU  - Monge, Mario
AU  - Hartwich, Frank
AU  - Halgin, Daniel
JO  - AgEcon Search (University of Minnesota, USA)
PY  - 2008
DO  - 10.22004/ag.econ.42330
UR  - https://doi.org/10.22004/ag.econ.42330
ER  - 

Details

DOI

10.22004/ag.econ.42330

Countries

Bolivia

Regions

South America

Categories

agtech, innovation-networks, food-systems, general-innovation

Added

2026-08-01