Knowledge and attitude towards collaboration in agricultural innovation systems amongst stakeholders in the North West Province, South Africa

Modirwa M S,Oladele O I

doi:10.17159/2413-3221/2017/v45n1a402

Abstract

The current study examined the extent of knowledge concerning agricultural innovation systems amongst researchers, extension agents, farmers, input dealers, and marketers, while determining their attitude towards collaborating with agricultural innovation systems. Through using a simple random sampling technique; researchers, extension agents, farmers, input dealers, and marketers were selected as the study population. Information was gathered by distributing a structured questionnaire amongst the various participants and analysing the data gained concerning their wealth of knowledge and their corresponding willingness to collaborate. The results show that researchers, extension agents, farmers, input dealers, and marketers are aware of, and have adequate knowledge of, these systems available to them, to be able to utilise them effectively. However, they expressed different attitudes towards collaboration with agricultural innovation systems. Keywords: Knowledge, attitude, collaboration, innovation systems

Highlights

The Agricultural Innovation System (AIS) is promoted as a framework that can be used to solve complex agricultural problems
The main objective of this study is to examine the extent of knowledge of agricultural innovation systems amongst researchers, extension agents, farmers, input dealers, and marketers, whilst determining their attitude towards collaboration in agricultural innovation systems
They believe that agricultural prosperity depends on new innovation because it is the application of knowledge and skills from different resources (87%). These results prove that extension agents are aware and knowledgeable about the agricultural innovation system because they believe in collaboration with different organisations in bringing about change in agriculture

Summary

Introduction

The Agricultural Innovation System (AIS) is promoted as a framework that can be used to solve complex agricultural problems. Collaboration amongst different stakeholders are a necessity. An example of such a collaboration would be investment in the capacity of extension workers and organisations for value chain approaches, in market-oriented extension, in group and organisational development, in agribusiness, and in mechanisms to share information The gap between these organisations create a problem in developing effective research and mechanisms to share information in developing research and extension systems (Davis & Heemsherk, 2009:179). Various stakeholders in innovation systems play different contributing roles that can be classified as facilitator, communicator, collaborator, coordinator, knowledge source, policy formulator, and implementer. Collaboration amongst stakeholders assists in understanding the relationship between the role-players in an innovation system and draws out their attitude towards the network (Bhattacharjee & Saravanan, 2015:345)

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