The role of innovation,servicing and obsolescence in agricultural extension

This paper argues for an expanded view of agricultural extension. Diffusion, the orthodox theory of technology adoption, is shown to apply to only one part of the life cycle of an agricultural practice. Other processes equally important to technological change, innovation, servicing and obsolescence, cannot be ignored.Innovation is the result of thinking in a way fundamentally different from science and the humanities. It employs modelling, pattern-formation and synthesis in the design process. Servicing after adoption is necessary to maintain a technologically-based practice and may require the major commitment of resources from advisory organizations. Obsolescence is the inevitable fate of all practices and may be dealt with by evolutionary modification or total substitution. All three processes may require of the extension worker and the supporting organization quite different skills and attitudes from those traditionally associated with diffusion. Organizations need considerable flexibility in order to manage all aspects of technological change.