An innovation systems perspective on strengthening agricultural education and training in sub-Saharan Africa

Strengthening agricultural innovation capacity: are innovation brokers the answer?

“…Also, especially in the context of rural poverty, differentiated approaches are needed in the design of such systemic intermediaries depending on a combination of asset position, favorable or unfavorable production environments (Berdegué & Escobar, 2002;Van Mele, 2008), and gender issues (Caniels, Romijn, & Wildt, 2006). However, in many countries, conditions and challenges are broadly similar to those in the Netherlands: the need to enhance networking in the innovation system, the need for a guiding agent in a fragmented innovation system, and the need to deal with the challenges of multifunctional agriculture (Clark, 2002;Sulaiman et al, 2005;Hall, 2006;Spielman et al, 2008 ). Hence, a relevant question here is: who are innovation brokers in the context of developing country agriculture?…”

“…Possibly, the role of independent innovation broker can be played by what is left of public agricultural extension services, as has been suggested by several authors (Alex, Zijp, & Byerlee, 2002;Leeuwis, 2004;Sulaiman et al, 2005;World Bank, 2008). However, what is then required is a shift from technology transfer agents to facilitators, and this has major implications in terms of organization structures, cultures, and incentive mechanisms, as well as for the knowledge and competences that present and future extensionists need to possess (see Leeuwis, 2004;Davis, Ekboir, & Spielman, 2008).…”

Innovation behaviour and the use of research and extension services in small-scale agricultural holdings

“…Literature about innovation in SMEs acknowledges the role of innovation as an important strategic tool to achieve competitive advantages (Diederen et al, 2003;Gellynck & Kuhne, 2008). In our research context, the question emerges on the extent that the AKIS favours technological, economic, and institutional changes in agriculture (Hall et al, 2003;Morriss et al, 2006;Spielman et al, 2008;Klerkx et al, 2010). One core role in the AKIS system is the one played by RES, which includes both disseminating new techniques and alternative company organisation (Leeuwis & Van de Ban, 2004).…”

Theory and application of Agricultural Innovation Platforms for improved irrigation scheme management in Southern Africa

“…Although using the concepts of complex adaptive system and innovation systems to understand and address complex agricultural problems is not new (Hall & Clark, 2010;Spielman et al, 2008), the focus of this article is to report on the practical application of these concepts in the context of small-scale irrigation systems. We develop the argument that small-scale irrigation systems have many of the characteristics of complex socio-ecological systems: they have many different actors (water authorities, irrigators, support services, policy makers and market agents), and they are composed of numerous subsystems (the source of the water, i.e.…”

“…The innovation systems framework was developed to provide insight into the 'rules of the game' and hence the complex relationships between the diverse stakeholders, be they farmers, retailers, processors, policy makers, researchers, donors or entrepreneurs. The innovation systems framework aims to identify and analyze new opportunities and to facilitate the collective action needed to bring about desirable change (Ostrom, 2009;Spielman, Ekboir, Davis, & Ochieng, 2008).…”