The diffusion of irrigation in the Old Ellesmere County

Abstract

The thesis presents the results of research into the diffusion of irrigation in the Old Ellesmere County. Using a sample of 45 irrigating farmers the spatial and temporal diffusion of irrigation is mapped and an interpretation of the observed patterns presented. Land use, water availability and the economic viability of the farm unit are found to be important in determining the location of early adopters. The diffusion of irrigation from the points of early adoption has a spatial regularity determined again in part by the above factors. Advances in irrigation technology have increased the number of potential adopters, but more importantly have affected the rate of acceptance. The influence of neighbours as an information source is dominant at all stages of the individual adoption sequence. The relative unimportance of the news media and the reinforcing role played by agricultural literature is noted. The diffusion of irrigation in the Old Ellesmere County has had a substantial impact on the farm landscape, both through the physical presence of irrigation plant and changes in farm management policy.