Indonesia
Hofsteede, W.M.F.
New technology and rural development the social impact: 116-193
1990
DOI: 10.1017/s0021911800148193Document Number: 563362
A comparison is made between two Javan villages: Kobak Kendal in Kendal Jaya desa where relatively many tractors are available, and Sidariwan in Kendung Jaya desa where relatively few tractors are available. Rapid diffusion of small hand tractors in Kobak Kendal has occurred since 1982, and slow diffusion of hand tractors has occurred in the village Sidariwan since 1984. Key informants are of the opinion that the difusion of small hand tractors had a bigger impact on these communities than other innovations in agriculture: (1) time needed for land preparation was substantially reduced; (2) wives of the farmers obtained much more free time; (3) the problem of labour shortages at the time of land preparation was solved; and (4) there was a displacement of farm labour. The social structure was transformed, with a greater dependency on outside forces and increased disparities between rich and poor. There were changes in family life due to the cumulative effects of the modernization of agriculture (including mechanization), changes in social structure, education, improvement of health and communications, democratization and modernization in general.