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Abstract
This paper analyses the impact of technology characteristics on the rate and speed of adoption. In a case study of the Meru
district in Kenya, 17 dairy technologies are analyzed with respect to the influence of relative complexity, relative risk and
relative investment characteristics on adoption. Technology characteristics were measured by a scoring approach which
involves assessments made by extension workers working in the study area. The study found that the past process of adoption
and diffusion was significantly influenced by the characteristics mentioned above. Considering the speed to completed
adoption, the influence of relative investment was smaller while relative complexity and relative risk showed significance. The
strong influence of relative complexity and relative risk of the technologies on the adoption can be explained by the
characteristics of farmers and the farming circumstances. Meru farmers are poorly educated and face shortage oflabor making
them hesitant to adopt complex technologies. Moreover, the risk of production is high leading farmers to adopt new
technologies that reduce risk relative to the traditional technologies. Knowing this, planners in research and extension should
advise the development of risk-reducing technologies with a low complexity as compared to the technologies that should be
replaced. © 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.