Abstract
Low uptake of improved technologies remains a challenge to enhancing agricultural productivity and food security in developing countries. This paper uses the agricultural innovations systems approach to analyse how the recently released hybrid banana varieties (HBVs) were developed, and how the interplay between processes and actors affect their uptake in central Uganda. The study used a qualitative research design employing a case study approach. Data were collected through 20 key informant interviews and 5 focus group discussions with purposively selected actors and farmer research groups respectively, and analysed using thematic-content analysis in NVivo. Results indicate that the process of developing HBVs is dominated by agricultural research institutions with limited involvement of other actors such as farmers, private sector and extension staff. Further, there is limited integration of social aspects including gender in the banana technology development process. The study, therefore, recommends use of inclusive participatory approaches in breeding of HBVs while paying attention to gender-specific preferences and the intrinsic quality attributes such as food colour, texture, flavour and taste since these are critical drivers for uptake of the new banana varieties.
Highlights
The rapidly increasing population in Africa, amidst declining agricultural productivity, poses complex global challenges associated with poverty and food security (AGRA, 2017; Food & Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations [FAO], 2015)
These themes are discussed simultaneously based on the different Banana Technology Development (BTD) processes while identifying the underlying gaps in the process and how these gaps affect the uptake of new hybrid banana varieties (HBVs)
Information from key informant interviews indicates that the process that led to development of the new HBVs can be described as a five-stage process involving; (1) setting the research agenda; (2) breeding; (3) trait evaluation and selection; (4) variety naming, release and registration; and (5) promotion and commercialization
Summary
The rapidly increasing population in Africa, amidst declining agricultural productivity, poses complex global challenges associated with poverty and food security (AGRA, 2017; Food & Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations [FAO], 2015). Agricultural research systems, as one of the key actors in enhancing food security, need to reorganise in an efficient and sustainable manner to address the food-related challenges. Acceleration of the rate of technological change is expected to propel the sustainable intensification of production systems (Godfray et al, 2010). To this end, several national agricultural research systems in Sub-Saharan Africa have generated technologies with a potential to enhance agricultural productivity. The use of the Innovation Systems Approach (ISA), have been recently embraced in technological innovation processes (Hall, Bockett, Taylor, Sivamohan, & Clark, 2001; Klerkx & Leeuwis, 2009; van Mierlo, Leeuwis, Smits, & Woolthuis, 2010)
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