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 The relevant variables within each of the three categories, like so much

of the development problem constitute a wide analgam. Hany of these variables

are traditionally considered to fall within the purview of a particular discip-

line or branch of science and range from the social psychological variable of

farmer attitudes and motivations to the agronomic variable of soil texture and

porosity. No attempt will be made at integrating all the relevant variables,

even limiting the range to the social sciences, because there is no generally

accepted social science model of change and development. Nor will there be an

attempt at an exhaustive listing of all the relevant variables. However, it

may be possible and useful to list the six sets of variables which experience

reveals as the most frequent reasons for the failure of farmers to adopt a new

recommended technology. Again, these are not mutually exclusive in any given

situation, but are a useful check list for any change agent.

(A) The Farmer -----

 S I. Not Known or Understood. T new technology may not be known

 by the farmers. Despte efforts of the change agents, the bulk of

 the farmers may not have heard of the new technology. 2 The media


 SThose who have read my previous work will be surprised at the absence of
peasant motivations and attitudes within this rubric. The more that I have delved
into the subject the more I am becoming convinced that the problem in this partic-
ular area is not so much determining the attitudes and motivations which are dis-
incentive to change or dysfunctional for development as determining the precise
ordering or weights of relevant elements in the preference functions of peasants
in a particular situation so as to prepare the proper strategy -- especially
selection of targets their timing and sequences. Motivational problems are much
more critical in the case of political elites, planners and those serving farmers.

 / yren [1964] believes that the critical factor to offset risk aversion among
peasant farmers is "adequate information about the new inputs which are proposed.
This includes potential adaptability to the farmer's own land and climate and a
vast number of details about the techniques to use with the new crop or practice."