Innovation Africa

'Innovation by, with and for farmers in Africa is one of the major contemporary challenges of development. This book will be essential reading for anyone interested in these issues.'Professor Ian Scoones, Institute of Development Studies at the University of Sussex, UK'This book takes the theme of innovation and its mainstreaming in research and extension a major step forward. I am impressed by the wide range of subjects and the diversity of authors." Chris Reij, VU University Amsterdam, The NetherlandsAgricultural research, extension and education can contribute greatly to enhancing agricultural production in a sustainable way and to reducing poverty in the developing world, but achievements have generally fallen short of expectations in Africa. In recent years, growing economic and demographic pressures - coupled with the entry of new market forces and actors - have created a need and an opportunity for more interactive approaches to development. Understanding the existing innovation processes, recognising the potentials for catalysing them and learning how to support joint innovation by different groups will be the key to success.This book covers new conceptual and methodological developments in agricultural innovation systems, and showcases recent on-the-ground experiences in different contexts in Africa. The contributions show how innovation is the outcome of social learning through interaction of individuals and organisations in both creating and applying knowledge. It brings examples of how space and incentives have been created to promote collaboration between farmers, research, extension and the private sectors to develop better technologies and institutional arrangements that can alleviate poverty. In 25 broad-ranging chapters the book reflects cutting-edge thinking and practice in catalysing and supporting innovation processes in agriculture and management of natural resources.

Pascal Sanginga is a Senior Programme Specialist in Rural Poverty and Environment at the International Development Research Centre (IDRC), Kenya. Ann Waters-Bayer is an agricultural sociologist in the EcoCulture unit of the ETC Foundation, The Netherlands and a member of the International Support Team for Prolinnova (Promoting Local Innovation in Ecologically-Oriented Agriculture and Natural Resource Management). Susan Kaaria is a Program Officer for Environment and Economic Development in the Eastern Africa Office of the Ford Foundation in Kenya. Jemimah Njuki is a Senior Scientist with the International Centre for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT), Zimbabwe. Chesha Wettasinha is an agriculturist in the EcoCulture unit of the ETC Foundation and a member of the International Support Team for Prolinnova.