Strengthening Conservation Agriculture innovation systems in sub-Saharan Africa: lessons from a stakeholder analysis
Complexity of African agrarian systems necessitates that agricultural research and development transition to agricultural innovation system [AIS] approaches. While AIS perspectives are embraced across sub-Saharan Africa, engagement of stakeholders in agricultural research and development processes a...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Taylor & Francis Group
2022-01-01
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| Series: | International Journal of Agricultural Sustainability |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/14735903.2021.1911511 |
| _version_ | 1797680426124312576 |
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| author | Edna L. Chinseu Andrew J. Dougill Lindsay C. Stringer |
| author_facet | Edna L. Chinseu Andrew J. Dougill Lindsay C. Stringer |
| author_sort | Edna L. Chinseu |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Complexity of African agrarian systems necessitates that agricultural research and development transition to agricultural innovation system [AIS] approaches. While AIS perspectives are embraced across sub-Saharan Africa, engagement of stakeholders in agricultural research and development processes as espoused in AIS paradigm remains limited. This paper aims to analyze key stakeholders in the AIS in Malawi using the case of Conservation Agriculture [CA]. We analyze roles, organizational capacity and collaboration of stakeholders in Malawi’s CA innovation system. Although Government has the most extensive role, NGOs dominate the national CA agenda, while smallholder farmers remain passive recipients of CA interventions. Many CA promoters lack technical and financial capacity, and pursue limited collaboration, which diminish prospects of inclusive stakeholder engagement. While insufficient resources lead to inadequate technical support to smallholders, the limited collaboration hinders integration of programmes, multiple sources of innovation and knowledge required to foster social learning and sustainability of CA. Our findings indicate a need to: (1) strengthen understanding of AIS approaches among CA innovation system stakeholders; (2) build stronger partnerships in CA research and development by strengthening stakeholder platforms and social processes; (3) strengthen collaboration advisory mechanisms to facilitate knowledge-sharing, resource mobilization and joint programme implementation with strengthened feedback loops. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T23:29:51Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-7f25fce75e2f47008007caa177a8ef43 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1473-5903 1747-762X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T23:29:51Z |
| publishDate | 2022-01-01 |
| publisher | Taylor & Francis Group |
| record_format | Article |
| series | International Journal of Agricultural Sustainability |
| spelling | doaj.art-7f25fce75e2f47008007caa177a8ef432023-09-20T10:18:00ZengTaylor & Francis GroupInternational Journal of Agricultural Sustainability1473-59031747-762X2022-01-01201173010.1080/14735903.2021.19115111911511Strengthening Conservation Agriculture innovation systems in sub-Saharan Africa: lessons from a stakeholder analysisEdna L. Chinseu0Andrew J. Dougill1Lindsay C. Stringer2University of LeedsUniversity of LeedsUniversity of YorkComplexity of African agrarian systems necessitates that agricultural research and development transition to agricultural innovation system [AIS] approaches. While AIS perspectives are embraced across sub-Saharan Africa, engagement of stakeholders in agricultural research and development processes as espoused in AIS paradigm remains limited. This paper aims to analyze key stakeholders in the AIS in Malawi using the case of Conservation Agriculture [CA]. We analyze roles, organizational capacity and collaboration of stakeholders in Malawi’s CA innovation system. Although Government has the most extensive role, NGOs dominate the national CA agenda, while smallholder farmers remain passive recipients of CA interventions. Many CA promoters lack technical and financial capacity, and pursue limited collaboration, which diminish prospects of inclusive stakeholder engagement. While insufficient resources lead to inadequate technical support to smallholders, the limited collaboration hinders integration of programmes, multiple sources of innovation and knowledge required to foster social learning and sustainability of CA. Our findings indicate a need to: (1) strengthen understanding of AIS approaches among CA innovation system stakeholders; (2) build stronger partnerships in CA research and development by strengthening stakeholder platforms and social processes; (3) strengthen collaboration advisory mechanisms to facilitate knowledge-sharing, resource mobilization and joint programme implementation with strengthened feedback loops.http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/14735903.2021.1911511agricultural transformationclimate smart agriculturedevelopmentextensionfarming systemsland managementmalawipolicyresearchsustainable intensification |
| spellingShingle | Edna L. Chinseu Andrew J. Dougill Lindsay C. Stringer Strengthening Conservation Agriculture innovation systems in sub-Saharan Africa: lessons from a stakeholder analysis International Journal of Agricultural Sustainability agricultural transformation climate smart agriculture development extension farming systems land management malawi policy research sustainable intensification |
| title | Strengthening Conservation Agriculture innovation systems in sub-Saharan Africa: lessons from a stakeholder analysis |
| title_full | Strengthening Conservation Agriculture innovation systems in sub-Saharan Africa: lessons from a stakeholder analysis |
| title_fullStr | Strengthening Conservation Agriculture innovation systems in sub-Saharan Africa: lessons from a stakeholder analysis |
| title_full_unstemmed | Strengthening Conservation Agriculture innovation systems in sub-Saharan Africa: lessons from a stakeholder analysis |
| title_short | Strengthening Conservation Agriculture innovation systems in sub-Saharan Africa: lessons from a stakeholder analysis |
| title_sort | strengthening conservation agriculture innovation systems in sub saharan africa lessons from a stakeholder analysis |
| topic | agricultural transformation climate smart agriculture development extension farming systems land management malawi policy research sustainable intensification |
| url | http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/14735903.2021.1911511 |
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