Farmers as agents in innovation systems. Empowering farmers for innovation through communities of practice

Dolinska, A. and d'Aquino, P. (2016) Farmers as agents in innovation systems. Empowering farmers for innovation through communities of practice. Agricultural Systems, 142. pp. 122-130.

[img] PDF - Published Version
Restricted to ICRISAT researchers only

Abstract

This paper examines the role that communities of practice (CoPs) of farmers play in the innovation process. The Agricultural Innovation Systems approach focuses mainly on interactions and learning between farmers and other actors but less on collective processes occurring between farmers. In CoPs farmers not only collectively construct knowledge, but also produce and reproduce discourses and norms providing framework for individual actions, that both can hamper or support innovation. We combined different qualitative methods to explore the role of CoPs of dairy farmers in three on-going innovation projects in an irrigated perimeter in North-West Tunisia. We found farmers belonging to CoPs more empowered for innovation that those working individually with expert support. However, this was only true in the CoPs where access to external sources of knowledge was assured. Addressing farmers as collectively constructing knowledge and opening space for negotiation of meanings were conditions determining the success of one of the innovation projects. CoP's ability to collectively produce discourse should be used and farmers should be supported in developing innovation narratives. This implies sharing power with farmers over the innovation process.

Item Type: Article
Uncontrolled Keywords: Agricultural innovation systems, Innovation process, Community of practice, Farmers' agency, Discursive space
Author Affiliation: LISODE — Lien Social Et Décision, 2512 Route de Mende, 34090 Montpellier, France
Subjects: Crop Improvement
Divisions: General
Depositing User: Mr B Krishnamurthy
Date Deposited: 10 Feb 2017 08:18
Last Modified: 10 Feb 2017 08:18
Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.agsy.2015.11.009
URI: http://eprints.icrisat.ac.in/id/eprint/14725

Actions (login required)

View Item View Item
EPrints Logo
eprints is powered by EPrints 3 which is developed by the School of Electronics and Computer Science at the University of Southampton. More information and software credits.