Farmers are acting quite rationally by preferring to adopt less complex innovations over more complex ones and by not adopting complex practices at all. Divisibility Divisibility allows for partial adoption. Farmers can adopt those parts of an innovation that they like or that are consistent with other farming objectives. Obviously, therefore, the more divisible into component parts an innovation is, the more likely it is to be adopted. Under the traditional model of adoption, partial adoption will inevitably lead to complete adoption.
Partial adoption is viewed as a form of trial adoption.
Where innovations are not divisible, they are not likely to be adopted. Such a commitment is unlikely for a range of reasons, and, consequently farmers are acting rationally when they do not adopt technologies that are not divisible. Farmers are more likely to adopt innovations that are compatible with other farm and personal objectives. Where innovations are complex and indivisible, they are also likely to represent major changes in the management of the farm. They will not, therefore, be compatible with other operations on the farm.