5.0 Building Innovation Networks in Dried Cassava Value Chain: Qualitative Evidence from Innovation Brokerage
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Date
2015
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Abstract
Agricultural development in developing countries is challenged by weak innovation
systems and lack of innovation capacities among key actors. Integration of agricultural
innovation perspectives and value chain approach for development have made the
interaction between a wide range of actors of innovation to become more complex
demanding different sets of knowledge, environment and incentives. The traditional
homogeneous intermediary layer of agricultural extension appeared to be ineffective to
this situation. As a result the majority of smallholder farmers are facing exclusion from
participating in supplying the long value chains. In countries characterized by mature
innovation systems, a specialized innovation-brokering role emerged as an alternative to
deal with innovation challenges in agricultural sectors (market and system failures). This
study, using a case study approach, intended to offer empirical evidence of the roles of
innovation brokerage implemented on cassava value chain by NGOs in the setting of
developed countries and where the innovation brokerage is not recognized by the
agricultural knowledge infrastructure (R&D institutions and extension services).
Important outcome of this analysis was that innovation brokerage roles were crucial in
agricultural innovation as it is beyond the capacity of R&D extension service. Hence, the
Ministry of Agriculture Food Security and Cooperative and other relevant stakeholders
should recognize the innovation brokerage roles and establish an institutional framework
for its functioning within the agricultural knowledge infrastructure.
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Keywords
Innovation broker, Cassava, Innovation network, Value chain, Tanzania
Citation
Mgumia, A.H., Mattee, A.Z. and Kundi, B.A., 5.0 Building Innovation Networks in Dried Cassava Value Chain: Qualitative Evidence from Innovation Brokerage. TRANSFORMATION OF AGRICULTURAL TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT APPROACHES IN TANZANIA, p.146.