Rural innovation systems and networks: Findings from a study of Ethiopian smallholders

Agriculture in Ethiopia is changing. New players, relationships, and policies are influencing how smallholders access and use information and knowledge. Although this growing complexity suggests opportunities for Ethiopian smallholders, too little is known about how these opportunities can be effect...

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Main Authors: Spielman, David J., Davis, Kristin E., Negash, Martha, Ayele, Gezahegn
Format: Artículo preliminar
Language:Inglés
Published: International Food Policy Research Institute 2008
Subjects:
Online Access:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/160190
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author Spielman, David J.
Davis, Kristin E.
Negash, Martha
Ayele, Gezahegn
author_browse Ayele, Gezahegn
Davis, Kristin E.
Negash, Martha
Spielman, David J.
author_facet Spielman, David J.
Davis, Kristin E.
Negash, Martha
Ayele, Gezahegn
author_sort Spielman, David J.
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description Agriculture in Ethiopia is changing. New players, relationships, and policies are influencing how smallholders access and use information and knowledge. Although this growing complexity suggests opportunities for Ethiopian smallholders, too little is known about how these opportunities can be effectively leveraged to promote pro-poor processes of rural innovation. This paper examines Ethiopia's smallholder agricultural sector to provide qualitative insights into the interactions between smallholders and other actors in the agricultural sector and the contribution those interactions make to the smallholders' innovation processes. Case studies of smallholder innovation networks in 10 communities suggest that public sector extension and administration exert a strong influence over smallholders' access to knowledge and information relative to market or civil society actors. Given the priority the Ethiopian government has placed on improving rural welfare by increasing market access among smallholders, the findings of this study may suggest the need to further explore policies and programs that create more space for market and civil society actors to participate in smallholder innovation networks.
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spelling CGSpace1601902025-11-06T07:20:51Z Rural innovation systems and networks: Findings from a study of Ethiopian smallholders Spielman, David J. Davis, Kristin E. Negash, Martha Ayele, Gezahegn agricultural development innovation technology social networks social learning agricultural sciences smallholders Agriculture in Ethiopia is changing. New players, relationships, and policies are influencing how smallholders access and use information and knowledge. Although this growing complexity suggests opportunities for Ethiopian smallholders, too little is known about how these opportunities can be effectively leveraged to promote pro-poor processes of rural innovation. This paper examines Ethiopia's smallholder agricultural sector to provide qualitative insights into the interactions between smallholders and other actors in the agricultural sector and the contribution those interactions make to the smallholders' innovation processes. Case studies of smallholder innovation networks in 10 communities suggest that public sector extension and administration exert a strong influence over smallholders' access to knowledge and information relative to market or civil society actors. Given the priority the Ethiopian government has placed on improving rural welfare by increasing market access among smallholders, the findings of this study may suggest the need to further explore policies and programs that create more space for market and civil society actors to participate in smallholder innovation networks. 2008 2024-11-21T09:50:14Z 2024-11-21T09:50:14Z Working Paper https://hdl.handle.net/10568/160190 en https://doi.org/10.1007/s10460-010-9273-y Open Access application/pdf International Food Policy Research Institute Spielman, David J.; Davis, Kristin E.; Negash, Martha; Ayele, Gezahegn. 2008. Rural innovation systems and networks: Findings from a study of Ethiopian smallholders. IFPRI Discussion Paper 759. https://hdl.handle.net/10568/160190
spellingShingle agricultural development
innovation
technology
social networks
social learning
agricultural sciences
smallholders
Spielman, David J.
Davis, Kristin E.
Negash, Martha
Ayele, Gezahegn
Rural innovation systems and networks: Findings from a study of Ethiopian smallholders
title Rural innovation systems and networks: Findings from a study of Ethiopian smallholders
title_full Rural innovation systems and networks: Findings from a study of Ethiopian smallholders
title_fullStr Rural innovation systems and networks: Findings from a study of Ethiopian smallholders
title_full_unstemmed Rural innovation systems and networks: Findings from a study of Ethiopian smallholders
title_short Rural innovation systems and networks: Findings from a study of Ethiopian smallholders
title_sort rural innovation systems and networks findings from a study of ethiopian smallholders
topic agricultural development
innovation
technology
social networks
social learning
agricultural sciences
smallholders
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/160190
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