Approaches to strengthening Agricultural Innovation Systems (AIS) in Central Asia, South Caucasus and Turkey

This publication represents a synthesis of assessments of national agricultural innovation systems in countries of Central Asia, South Caucasus and Turkey. The first chapter gives an introduction of the project “Capacity Development for Analysis and Strengthening of Agricultural Innovation Systems in Central Asia and Turkey”, out of which the current publication reports about one of the project outputs achieved. The second chapter describes the institutional landscape of the agricultural innovation systems, innovation pattern, and processes of innovation based on 14 selected case studies in these countries. It also covers the issue of financing the research and extension systems and the use of information and communication technology in the agricultural innovation systems. The third and last chapter deals with the key constraints of agricultural innovation systems identified and provides recommendations on how to address them. These include recommendations concerning relevant policy issues, innovation management issues, and other issues such as the need of raising awareness on agriculture among young people and of improving the functioning of market systems.