Learning
Involving all of the stakeholders in problem identification and possible interventions together with documentation and lesson sharing on progress and shortcomings of innovations allows for greater uptake of agricultural research outputs.
Lessons from implementing RIU approach to R&D have been shared with various programme stakeholders and partners during stakeholders meetings at platform levels, workshops, newsletters, and at the RIU Nigeria Learning Event.
Private sector
Private sector participation is necessary for sustainable up-scaling of innovation in agriculture. Synergy, persistence and patience amongst stakeholders are required for changes to occur in an enabling policy environment.
Financial Institutions offer credit to agricultural enterprises at very high interest rate without cognisance of the respective value chain cycles (e.g. planting, harvesting, etc). Therefore, they could not respond to farmers needs appropriately.
The private sector has not fully responded to its role in R4D probably due to over involvement of the public sector over the years. Building of trust and confidence among value chain actors needs time and the role of an independent broker is necessary if the gains made are to be sustained.
Linkages and brokerage
The linkage of stakeholders to credit and markets is very weak, unstable. Sometimes there is also an unfavourable policy environment.
Initially the innovation platforms were weak and needed nurturing to mature and become sustainable. Institutional capacities are weak. Usually a catalyst is required to kick start the innovation process. There is the need for a neutral independent innovation broker/catalyst to continue for some time so as to strengthen, nurture and build institutional capacity for R4D. Working in the policy environment needs time and persistence. It is not clear where such a broker will come from outside of programmes like RIU. However the methodology of innovation brokerage has been picked up by Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria (ARCN) and The West Africa Agricultural Productivity Programme - so some mainstreaming of the approach has occurred.
Brokering agricultural innovation involves conflict resolution, and it is important that an innovation broker is perceived by all stakeholders as being neutral, unbiased and fair. This is necessary for creating linkages that would enable large scale adoption of agricultural research outputs. The linkages formed by RIU programme are growing, but are still fragile and need to be nurtured to maturity to be sustainable.
There was suspicion and mistrust amongst value chain actors in all the commodity sectors, farmer groups and associations have reasons over the years to doubt the genuineness of nongovernmental agencies commitment and ability to deliver. In most cases there was lack of confidence in government agencies to put the interest of the farmers first. These challenges were resolved/reduced through regular meetings at platform levels, keeping to schedule of platform activities and making sure that collaborating agencies/institutions live up to expectation, all these helped to build confidence and trust which led to some success.
Policy areas
RIU engaged policy makers and realised that there are vested interests or pressure groups which exert influence on agricultural policy decisions.
Working in the policy arena requires a great deal of time to achieve institutional change. Sometimes policymakers need capacity building in order to understand, appreciate and act on issues that may have far reaching implications not obvious to them. In some cases the policies are there but no supporting institutions for effective enforcement.
The key policymakers in agriculture are: The State Houses of Assembly at state level, House of Representatives and Senate at national level. Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development at national level, and respective state ministries of agriculture. Policy influencing groups include relevant agricultural occupational associations, nongovernmental organisations, trade unions, relevant government agencies, influential members of the society. Mechanism used included: advocacy, lobbying, information sharing and synergy of action amongst stakeholders.
Involving all of the stakeholders in problem identification and possible interventions together with documentation and lesson sharing on progress and shortcomings of innovations allows for greater uptake of agricultural research outputs.
Lessons from implementing RIU approach to R&D have been shared with various programme stakeholders and partners during stakeholders meetings at platform levels, workshops, newsletters, and at the RIU Nigeria Learning Event.
Private sector
Private sector participation is necessary for sustainable up-scaling of innovation in agriculture. Synergy, persistence and patience amongst stakeholders are required for changes to occur in an enabling policy environment.
Financial Institutions offer credit to agricultural enterprises at very high interest rate without cognisance of the respective value chain cycles (e.g. planting, harvesting, etc). Therefore, they could not respond to farmers needs appropriately.
The private sector has not fully responded to its role in R4D probably due to over involvement of the public sector over the years. Building of trust and confidence among value chain actors needs time and the role of an independent broker is necessary if the gains made are to be sustained.
Linkages and brokerage
The linkage of stakeholders to credit and markets is very weak, unstable. Sometimes there is also an unfavourable policy environment.
Initially the innovation platforms were weak and needed nurturing to mature and become sustainable. Institutional capacities are weak. Usually a catalyst is required to kick start the innovation process. There is the need for a neutral independent innovation broker/catalyst to continue for some time so as to strengthen, nurture and build institutional capacity for R4D. Working in the policy environment needs time and persistence. It is not clear where such a broker will come from outside of programmes like RIU. However the methodology of innovation brokerage has been picked up by Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria (ARCN) and The West Africa Agricultural Productivity Programme - so some mainstreaming of the approach has occurred.
Brokering agricultural innovation involves conflict resolution, and it is important that an innovation broker is perceived by all stakeholders as being neutral, unbiased and fair. This is necessary for creating linkages that would enable large scale adoption of agricultural research outputs. The linkages formed by RIU programme are growing, but are still fragile and need to be nurtured to maturity to be sustainable.
There was suspicion and mistrust amongst value chain actors in all the commodity sectors, farmer groups and associations have reasons over the years to doubt the genuineness of nongovernmental agencies commitment and ability to deliver. In most cases there was lack of confidence in government agencies to put the interest of the farmers first. These challenges were resolved/reduced through regular meetings at platform levels, keeping to schedule of platform activities and making sure that collaborating agencies/institutions live up to expectation, all these helped to build confidence and trust which led to some success.
Policy areas
RIU engaged policy makers and realised that there are vested interests or pressure groups which exert influence on agricultural policy decisions.
Working in the policy arena requires a great deal of time to achieve institutional change. Sometimes policymakers need capacity building in order to understand, appreciate and act on issues that may have far reaching implications not obvious to them. In some cases the policies are there but no supporting institutions for effective enforcement.
The key policymakers in agriculture are: The State Houses of Assembly at state level, House of Representatives and Senate at national level. Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development at national level, and respective state ministries of agriculture. Policy influencing groups include relevant agricultural occupational associations, nongovernmental organisations, trade unions, relevant government agencies, influential members of the society. Mechanism used included: advocacy, lobbying, information sharing and synergy of action amongst stakeholders.
| Ian Maudlin, RIU Director, introduces Research Into Use, explains its aims and outlines the impacts the programme hopes to achieve. November 2009 (3:55) |  |
