The Innovation Tree: a new PRA tool to reveal the innovation adoption and diffusion process

This paper looks at a new PRA tool called the Innovation Tree which has helped people to visualise and analyse the way in which an innovation is spread over time between community members. It is found to be an interesting tool that distinguishes between innovators and adopters, as well as helping outsiders and the community understand some of the social and psychological dimensions that influence the adoption of an innovation. The Innovation Tree also enables investigation into how different personalities play different roles in promoting the technology to their colleagues, which is of direct relevance for developing farmer-to-farmer extension activities. The 'type one' innovator can inspire a wide range of people from different levels within a community and has a modest, mild and inquiring manner. The 'type two' innovator enthuses fewer and mainly like-minded people within the community. These innovators are more eager to go outside the community to promote the technology, rather than engage in educational activities.