EXTENSION AND THE ADOPTION OF ENVIRONMENTAL TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PARISMINA WATERSHED, COSTA RICA A Thesis Presented in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Master of Science in the Graduate School of The Ohio State University By Melanie Joy Miller, B.S ****** The Ohio State University 2007 Master's Examination Committee: Approved by: Dr. David Hansen, Advisor Dr. William Flinn Dr. Linda Lobao Rural Sociology Graduate Program Copyright by Melanie Miller 2007 ABSTRACT The diffusion of innovations model has been used by social scientists for decades to understand the adoption of new agricultural technologies, but its applicability to environmental as opposed to commercial technologies has been the source of much debate. The “classic” model’s ability to account for the diffusion of environmental innovations is hampered by its productivist and voluntarist assumptions. In addition, adoption patterns have been far more widely studied in North America than in areas such as Latin America. This thesis examines patterns of adoption of a set of environmental farm technologies in the Parismina Watershed in tropical Costa Rica, paying particular attention to the role of a local agronomic university’s extension activities in their dissemination. The findings indicate that overall patterns of adoption remain low; that size of farm is the strongest single predictor of adoption; and that a higher degree of environmental concern and contact with university extension also account for a significantly higher rate of adoption of environmental technologies. ii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS As with all major endeavors, this thesis has resulted from the efforts, ideas and personal support of many different people. I want to thank my advisor, Dr. David Hansen for all of his support throughout this project. Without his encouragement and enthusiasm this project would not have been possible. In addition, I wish to thank my committee members Dr. Linda Lobao and Dr. William Flinn for their continued support throughout my program. Special thanks to Matt Mariola for his guidance and advice throughout the Costa Rica fieldwork and my entire graduate school experience. I would like to express my gratitude to the faculty, staff and students at EAR TH University who welcomed me and assisted in this study. A very special thanks to the EARTH students who worked on this project: Joel Eduardo Reyes Cabrera, Jose Mauricio Torres Rodriguez, Julian Villca Mallon, Visna Maya Miranda Martinez, Nancy Huarachi Morejon, and Alex Orlando Gualapuro Gualapuro. Their dedication to the project and commitment to excellence was truly an inspiration. In addition I would also like to thank Herminio Dover for his patience, conversation, and guidance during the fieldwork. 111 Thanks to my family in supporting me throughout all my endeavors. Special thanks to Daniel Foster who lent fresh perspective on a daily basis throughout the writing of this thesis, and to Cristina Santelli who was there for me from day one. I would like to express my gratitude to my funding sources: the Social Responsibility Initiative, the Center for Latin American Studies, and the Department of Energy. lV VITA January 9, 1980 ......................................................... Born Rugby, North Dakota December, 2002 ....................................................... B.S in Agriculture from North Dakota State University 2005 ........................................................................... Research Assistant, Costa Rica 2005 - present ........................................................... Research Associate, The Ohio State University FIELDS OF STUDY Major Field: Rural Sociology v TABLE OF CONTENTS ABSTRACT ........................................................................................................................ ii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ................................................................................................. iii VITA ................................................................................................................................ v LIST OF TABLES ............................................................................................................. ix LIST OF FIGURES ............................................................................................................ x Chapters: 1. INTRODUCTION AND PURPOSE OF STUDY. ................................................ 1 Introduction to the Study ........................................................................................ 1 Overview of Costa Rica .......................................................................................... 1 Statement and Significance of Problem .................................................................. 5 Purpose and Objectives of Study ............................................................................ 7 Project Objectives ....................................................................................... 7 Hypotheses .................................................................................................. 7 Summary ................................................................................................................. 8 2. THE DIFFUSION OF INNOVATIONS ................................................................ 9 The North American Bias ..................................................................................... 12 The case of conservation technologies and limitations of the classical model.. ... 12 Conservation versus commercial technologies ......................................... 13 Economic constraints ................................................................................ 15 Appropriateness of technology ................................................................. 18 Perception of the problem ......................................................................... 19 Knowledge ................................................................................................ 21 Social factors ............................................................................................. 22 Non-adoption ............................................................................................ 23 Conclusions on the Diffusion of Innovations and Conservation Technologies ............................................................................................. 23 Extension and the Diffusion of Innovations ......................................................... 24 The Beginnings of Agricultural Extension in the Developing World ...... 25 The Green Revolution and Early Extension Practices in Developing Countries ................................................................................................... 26 Vl Approaches to Extension .......................................................................... 27 Conclusions ........................................................................................................... 29 3. EARTH UNIVERSITY PROGRAM OF ECOTECHNOLOGY DISSEMINATION ............................................................................................... 31 The Parismina Watershed ..................................................................................... 31 Producer Profiles ................................................................................................... 34 EARTH University ............................................................................................... 41 EARTH Extension .................................................................................... 43 The Technologies .................................................................................................. 45 Animals and Crops .................................................................................... 46 Biodigestor ................................................................................................ 4 7 Nutritional Blocks ..................................................................................... 48 Traditional Compost ................................................................................. 48 Worm Compost ......................................................................................... 49 Effective Microorganisms (EM) ............................................................... 49 Bokashi with EM ...................................................................................... 50 Forest Species ........................................................................................... 50 Agro-ecotourism ....................................................................................... 50 Summary ............................................................................................................... 51 4. Methodology ......................................................................................................... 53 Sampling Procedure .............................................................................................. 53 Data Collection ..................................................................................................... 54 The Sample ............................................................................................... 54 Pre-survey Preparation .............................................................................. 54 Survey Instrument ..................................................................................... 55 Interviewers .............................................................................................