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the objective reality is 5.1 with a probability of 90 per cent. The same

phenomenon when viewed by the farmer may have a different set of values subjec-

tively and objectively. The reason for the difference between the two objective

realities could be that the objective reality as seen by the change agent is for

all farmers within his area whereas the farmer's is for his specific farm. If

the change agent knew the farmer's farm as well as the farmer does, the objective

realities would be the same. Since the change agent does not, their respective

realities diverge. In this case as well there is no a prior reason why the

farmer's objective reality should be lower; it could be higher. Similarly,

subjective perceptions can diverge for a number of reasons. For example, a

farmer who is an early adopter and who has never previously tried the innovation

and who has only seen it on a nearby farm demonstration usually tends to add a

significant discount factor to any estimates of yield derived from his immediate

observable experience (see below).

 Finally, it must be emphasized that there are important interactions

between one or more of the three categories. For example, lack of awareness

among the farmers regarding the true merits of the proposed innovation (category

1) may be due to improper methods of extension education (category 3). Similarly,

if the extension agents do not truly understand the new managerial practices

called for with a new variety (category 3), they may fail to provide the farmers

with the required managerial skills (category 1).



/ These interactions are often further complicated by disciplinary boxes. For
example, Edel [1967] reports two interesting cases of Jamaican fishermen where an
income maximization and risk minimization model explains certain patterns of
economic behavior (viz. choice between shallows and deep-water fishing) but which
does not become generally valid in explaining other actions (viz. acceptance or
rejection of spear-fishing and cooperatives) until community solidarity and social
structure are explicitly introduced.