Contribution of farmers' experiments and innovations to Cuba's agricultural innovation system



View results in:
https://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S1742170511000251
DOI: 
ttp://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S1742170511000251
Licensing of resource: 
Rights subject to owner's permission
Type: 
journal article
Journal: 
Renewable Agriculture and Food Systems
Number: 
4
Pages: 
354-367
Volume: 
26
Year: 
2011
Author(s): 
Leitgeb, F.
Kummer, S.
Funes-Monzote F. R.
Vogl, C. R.
Description: 

The innovation system perspective acknowledges the contributions made by all stakeholders involved in knowledge development, dissemination and appropriation. According to the specific agricultural production system, farmers adopt innovations, modify them or innovate on their own. This paper examines the role of farmers' experiments and innovations in Cuba's agricultural innovation system (AIS), identifies knowledge exchange encounters and describes some strategies implemented to institutionalize farmers' experiments and innovations. The research methods comprised 34 semi-structured interviews with agricultural experts from the science, administration and advisory system, and 31 free list questionnaires to assess the institutional influence on farmers' experiments and innovations. In addition, three case studies of outstanding farmers' experiments are presented. 

Publication year: 
2011