Agricultural innovation
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This document outlines an objectives and methodology for analyzing complex agricultural problems and developing agricultural innovation strategies using the Rapid Appraisal of Agricultural Innovation Systems (RAAIS) tool. The document defines key characteristics of complex agricultural problems as multi-dimensional, multi-level, multi-stakeholder, and highly uncertain. It then describes the RAAIS workshop methodology which involves exercises to identify constraints, opportunities, and entry points for innovation through stakeholder participation. The goal is to facilitate analysis of problems and development of coherent strategies to address them through an agricultural innovation systems approach.
Agricultural innovation
- 1. Agricultural innovation Marc Schut (marc.schut@wur.nl) Wageningen University, the Netherlands Humidtropics capacity development workshop, Nairobi, 29 April – 2 May 2014 http://humidtropics.cgiar.org/
- 2. Objectives of the session • Participants: – Are triggered to think about different characteristics of complex agricultural problems – Are triggered to think about different agricultural innovation strategies to address such problems – Are familiarised with tools that can support the: • Structural analysis of complex agricultural problems • Development of coherent innovation strategies to address complex agricultural problems
- 3. Complex agricultural problems 4 Key characteristics of complex agricultural problems: • Different problem dimensions • Interactions across different levels • Involvement of multiple stakeholders and the organisations they represent • How problems develop and what will be the impact of solutions is uncertain and unpredictable
- 4. Complex agricultural problems 1. Multi-dimensional • Biophysical • Technological • Socio-cultural • Economic • Institutional • Political Analysing problems/ exploring solutions is unlikely to be successful if these dimensions are analysed separately
- 5. Climate change and food security Rainfall patterns Temperature Drought resistant varieties Reduced yield/ income Kyoto protocol Carbon credits Who is responsible? Who pays? Cropping calendar
- 6. Complex agricultural problems 2. Multi-level interactions • International • Regional • National • Subnational • Community • Farm • Plot Exploring solutions requires interventions across different levels
- 7. Climate change and food security Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) – awareness of and structural allocation of resources to CC SADC Climate Change Adaptation Strategy – impact of CC on water availability for amongst others agriculture Kenya National Climate Change Response Strategy – urban polution/ clean energy/ deforestation/ desertificaiton Farmer climate change mitigation and adaptation strategies (e.g. rain water harvesting)
- 8. Complex agricultural problems 3. Multi-stakeholder • Policymakers • Civil society • Development • Donors • Farmers • Private sector • Consultants • Researchers None of these stakeholders can solve the complex problem on their own.
- 9. Climate change and food security
- 10. Climate change and food security
- 13. Complex agricultural problems 4. Highly uncertain and unpredictable • How problem will develop over time • Type of solutions and their (undesired) impacts • Stakeholder interactions • Phases in e.g. policy processes • Chaos and crises
- 14. Climate change and food security • How will climate change develop over time? • What type of climate change adaptation and mitigation strategies will be effective? • Will different types of stakeholder continue to work together?
- 15. Need for agricultural innovations Solution strategies with attention for: • Integrated analysis of problem dimensions, design integrated solutions • Interactions between multiple levels • Needs and interest of different stakeholder groups (including gender, age, ethnic groups) • Flexibility and adaptive capacity to respond to uncertain and unpredictable context
- 17. How innovations emerge? • Spaces for creativity • Where ideas of different people can mingle • Connectivity, borrow from each other, combine perspectives • Finding the missing piece • Such processes take time • “The whole is bigger than the sum of its parts”
- 19. Define agricultural innovation (1) • Technology, practice or product handling that will bring increased yield and income to the farmer • Modern/ improved or superior production technique used to improve production or quality and quantity required at a given time. • Novel idea, process, tool, or solution to facilitate healthy and sustainable agriculture that is tailored to a specific context.
- 20. Define agricultural innovation (2) • Combined hardware (technologies – e.g. seeds) and software (social-organisational – e.g. seed systems) to enhance development and business objectives, change for the better • Tool that can guide analysis of complex agricultural problems, and the identification of entry points that enhance the innovation capacity of the agricultural system in which the complex agricultural problem is embedded.
- 21. Agricultural Innovation Systems • From technology-oriented to systems approaches to innovation Technology Transfer (TT) Farming Systems Analysis (FSR) Agricultural Knowledge and Information Systems (AKIS) Agricultural Innovation Systems (AIS) Era From 1960’s From 1970’s/ 1980’s From 1990’s From 2000’s Approach Research develops technologies that are transferred to farmers Research identifies and reliefs (land, labour) constraints of farmers Research collaborates with extension officers and farmers in developing solutions Create an enabling environment for innovation
- 22. Agricultural Innovation Systems Technology Transfer (TT) Farming Systems Analysis (FSR) Agricultural Knowledge and Information Systems (AKIS) Agricultural Innovation Systems (AIS) Roles of farmers Adopters of technologies Adopters of knowledge and technologies Source of information Experimenters Experts Partners Entrepreneurs Part of innovation network Roles of research and researchers Developers of knowledge and technologies Experts Capacity builders Facilitators of learning Enhance innovation capacity in the system Members innovation network
- 23. Agricultural Innovation Systems Technology Transfer (TT) Farming Systems Analysis (FSR) Agricultural Knowledge and Information Systems (AKIS) Agricultural Innovation Systems (AIS) Intended outcomes Technology adoption and uptake Adapt technologies to farming systems Joint development of technologies Capacities to co- innovate, learn and change Key intervention approach Technology dissemination through extension and mass media Surveys, typologies, modelling of impact Participatory research, Farmer Field Schools Establish, implement and support multi- stakeholder platforms Weaknesses Disregards farmer involvement and adoption context Focus on field and farm level Local orientation, costly, scaling up and scaling out Lacks empirical evidence, system’s boundaries are difficult to define
- 26. Analyze Agricultural Innovation Systems • Analyse complex agricultural problems – Complex problem (multiple dimensions/ levels/ stakeholders) – System in which the problem is embedded – Components/ elements that support or constrain innovation in the agricultural system • Identify entry points for innovation to address complex agricultural problems – Specific entry points for innovation (e.g. Striga in maize) – Generic entry points for innovation (e.g. crop protection)
- 28. Break
- 29. What is RAAIS? • ‘An easy way to make people do a difficult job’ • Rapid Appraisal of Agricultural Innovation Systems is a tool to: – Analyse characteristics of complex problems – Identify challenges and constraints for innovation in the agricultural system – Identify opportunities for innovation in systems • Use different types of data/ methods – Workshops, questionnaires, interviews, existing statistics
- 30. RAAIS workshop methodology Exercise 2 Exercise 3 Exercise 1 Categorising constraints and challenges Exploring opportunities for innovation Identifying constraints and challenges Entry theme Specific and generic entry points for innovation
- 31. RAAIS mini workshop – Exercise 1 • Identify different participant groups – Farmer representatives – NGO/ civil society representatives – Private sector representatives – Government representatives – Research/ training representatives • Each participant receives 5 coloured cards – Write your name, country and/or Action Site on the back of each of the 5 cards
- 32. RAAIS mini workshop – Exercise 2 • Entry Theme: What are – according to you – the five biggest constraints for agricultural innovation in your country/ Action Site? Write the five constraints on the five cards that you have received (one constraint per card)
- 33. RAAIS mini workshop – Exercise 3 • Form groups – Farmer representatives – NGO/ civil society representatives – Private sector representatives – Government representatives – Research/ training representatives • Discuss the constraints identified by the different participants and together develop a top-5 of constraints and challenges
- 34. RAAIS mini workshop – Exercise 4 • For each card, identify the type of constraint dimension: – Biophysical – Technological – Socio-cultural – Economic – Institutional – Political • Place X if dimension applies to the constraint • Circle X of dimension that applies best
- 35. The dimensions of complex agricultural problems Biophysical Technological Socio-culturel Economic Institutional Political 1. 2. 3. 4. Etc. 5.
- 36. 4. Type of constraints
- 37. 4. Type of constraints 0 5 10 15 20 Biophysical Technological Socio-cultural Economic Institutional Political Burundi Rwanda HL Rwanda LL Congo
- 38. 4. Type of constraints 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Farmer/ producer Civil society/ NGO Private sector Government Research and training
- 39. 5. What is causing the constraints 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 Infrastructure and assets Institutions Interaction and collaboration Capactities and resources Rwanda LL Rwanda HL Congo Burundi
- 40. 6. Level where constraint can be solved? 0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 Burundi Congo Rwanda HL Rwanda LL
- 41. 7. Relations between constraints Diseases Inadequate extension Absence of infra in high potential areas Poor infrastruc. Inadequate access to farm inputs Costs of farm inputs Availability of markets Poor backstopping of extension Poor knowledge of inputs Limited agricultural education
- 42. 8. Relationship with objectives
- 43. 9. Short-, middle- and long term
- 44. 10. Research needs Type of research needed to address constraints and challenges % Productivity research 20% NRM research 10% Institutional research 69% Nutrition research 1%
- 45. 11. Prioritisation of research needs
- 46. 12. Action plan for innovation
- 47. Validation • Combine multiple methods? –E.g. workshops, in-depth interviews, surveys, secondary data analyses –Validate and triangulate data –What insights do multi-stakeholder workshop not provide? • Towards implementation and action
- 48. Reflection and closure • Participants: – Are triggered to think about different characteristics of complex agricultural problems – Are triggered to think about different agricultural innovation strategies to address such problems – Are familiarised with tools that can support the: • Structural analysis of complex agricultural problems • Development of coherent innovation strategies to address complex agricultural problems
- 49. Thank you so much! Marc Schut (marc.schut@wur.nl) Wageningen University, the Netherlands Capacity Development Workshop 29 April – 2 May 2014, Nairobi, Kenya