Adapting through innovation is one way for rural communities to sustain and improve their livelihoods and environments. Since the 1980s research and development organizations have developed participatory approaches to foster rural innovation. This paper develops a model, called the Learning-to-Innovate (LTI) model, of four basic processes linked to decision making and learning which regulate rate and quality of innovation. The processes are: creating awareness of new opportunities; deciding to adopt; adapting and changing practice; and learning and selecting.
A partir de experiencias de investigación-transformación en sistemas agrícolas en Cuba, el trabajo examina áreas relevantes en una concepción de desarrollo rural sustentable, como el fortalecimiento y la diversificación de los sistemas agropecuarios y las economías locales, la articulación de actores y participación en los procesos de desarrollo, que evidencian el movimiento desde un enfoque eminentemente tecnológico hacia una propuesta más social e integradora
The citizens of Lesotho rely on a complex web of livelihood strategies made primarily of family kinships and strong community networks. Recently, community breakdowns have occurred because of extensive land degradation, soil erosion, widespread poverty, and HIV/AIDs. This thesis focuses on two aspects which are likely to help decrease the problems earlier stated.
Argentine agriculture has undergone significant transformations over the past three decades. After a long period of stagnant production and productivity, starting in the early 1970s, a number of independent but interconnected events fostered a new technological cycle that induced rapid growth in cereals and oilseeds production. Zero tillage and the introduction of genetically modified soybean varieties were key elements of this change. Argentina reached a leading position across agricultural commodity markets.
Au moins 2,5 millions d’hectares de terres ont été achetés en Afrique par des états étrangers, des multinationales ou des fonds de pension, soit l’équivalent du territoire de la Belgique. C’est ce que révèle un rapport de la FAO – l’Agence des Nations unies pour l’agriculture et l’alimentation. La FAO s’inquiète des violations des droits des paysans que ces accaparements de terres peuvent entraîner, et s’interroge sur la participation des populations locales aux bénéfices générés. Mais elle y voit avant tout une perspective de développement. Au profit de qui ?
This study explores one of the most important questions for alleviating poverty in sub-Saharan Africa, why are advancements in agricultural technology not taking root in this region? Using data from deep interviews of 42 small-scale farmers in Ghana and Cameroon, a conceptual analysis of drivers and factors of agricultural technology adoption in this region is made and represented as causal loop diagrams. Interviews also provide a basis for weighting factors that farmers consider before adopting a new technology.
Les systèmes d’innovation (SI) ont inspiré de nombreuses publications, notamment dans les pays industrialisés et, plus récemment, dans le monde en développement. Toutefois, à quelques exceptions près, la littérature dédiée aux SI n’explique pas de manière appropriée comment utiliser l’approche systémique pour améliorer l’innovation ou comment initier et faciliter les SI. Par ailleurs, si l’innovation elle-même semble avoir été suffisamment étudiée, son intégration dans un système qui, à son tour, opère dans certains contextes institutionnels et politiques, n’a pas été approfondie.
Grown in Jamaica since the days of slavery, food yams are major staples in local diets and a significant non-traditional export crop. The cultivation system used today is the same as 300 years ago, with alleged unsustainable practices. A new cultivation system called minisett was introduced in 1985 but the adoption rate twenty four years later is extremely low.
This presentation was realized for the GFAR workshop on "Adoption of ICT Enabled Information Systems for Agricultural Development and Rural Viability" (at IAALD-AFITA-WCCA World Congress, 2008). It presents lessons learned through linking research to extension, including examples from projects in Nigeria, Colombia, Uganda ,Costa Rica, Egypt and Bhutan.
The balance of debates about innovation systems ideas in agricultural and rural developmentseems to have shifted from conceptualisation and historical analysis to planning and practice. National and international development agencies are now grappling with the need to rethinktheir investments in line with this new perspective. In this edition the authors suggest 10 priority topics where rethinking isneeded and where there seems to be enough experience to provide advice