We develop a conceptual framework designed to assess the impact of public incentives on the diffusion process of modern, water-saving irrigation technologies. Diffusion patterns of the integral sprinkler cover system in the sugarcane sector of Reunion Island (France) are estimated using a sample of 110 farmers aggregated over the 1990-2006 period. We show that imitation is the main explanatory factor of the adoption dynamics. We also show that the characteristic diffusion path is not perfectly symmetric and is significantly affected by equipment subsidies.