Diffusion of cleaner production innovation in clay-fired brick sector - case study of Varanasi brick cluster in Eastern India

The micro, small and medium enterprises sector is a highly vibrant and dynamic contributor to the Indian economy. Clay-fired brick making is a prominent MSME sub-sector in India that has not experienced any significant technological change. Zig-zag firing technology, a cleaner production initiative, introduced in the brick making process in the 1970s did not diffuse then, but is increasingly finding its way now after about four decades. This paper attempts to understand the factors that influence adoption of cleaner production innovation by MSME units, focusing on a specific brick making cluster in eastern India. Structured interviews were carried out in the field with 42 brick kiln owners, representing 18% of all brick kiln owners in the cluster. The results of the findings support the idea that external factors that help in creating an enabling environment and the characteristics of brick kiln entrepreneurs play an important role in the diffusion of new technology.