Partnerships in highlands of Rwanda under Integrated Agricultural Research for Development (IAR4D) arrangements

C Ngaboyisonga,S Nyamwaro,A.A Adekunle,M Tenywa,R Buruchara,J Oduol,A.O Fatunbi,J Mugabo

doi:10.4314/acsj.v25i1.7s

Abstract

The Integrated Agricultural Research for Development (IAR4D) concept was proposed to respond to the failures of Agriculture Research and Development (ARD) systems in Sub-Saharan Africa. The key element of implementation and success of IAR4D was action sites called agricultural Innovation Platform (IPs) and their counterfactual sites. Social Network Analysis (SNA) is used to explain social relationships and partnerships. This study explored the patterns of agricultural partnerships among stakeholders in the highlands of Rwanda under IAR4D. Data were collected in action sites that included Mudende, Gataraga, Remera and Rwerere; and in their counterpart counterfactual sites that comprised of Bigogwe, Nyange and Gacaca. Results showed that in action sites, stakeholders were linked to different and diversified partners. Furthermore, many stakeholders were connected to several partners through agricultural partnerships, hence creating complex social networks with high density and degree of distribution. In the counterfactual sites, however, stakeholders were exclusively linked to the same kind of partners, and one stakeholder was connected to one partner through probably non-agricultural partnerships. These facts demonstrated that IAR4D created dense interfaces, significantly improved the networking system, and delivered technologies and innovations.Keywords: Action sites, counterfactual sites, IAR4D, partners, stakeholders

Highlights

Sub-Saharan African (SSA) agriculture largely remains traditional and concentrated in the hands of smallholders
When applied in action sites, the IAR4D system engages stakeholders to interact very actively and to establish interdependencies or partnerships among themselves depending on mutual benefits, interests and foreseen impacts to achieve a common goal
This study was undertaken to analyse the patterns of partnerships between stakeholders and their partners in action sites under the IAR4D concept for technologies and innovation delivery

Summary

Introduction

Sub-Saharan African (SSA) agriculture largely remains traditional and concentrated in the hands of smallholders. The concept of Integrated Agricultural Research for Development (IAR4D) was proposed to bring solutions to the failures of ARD systems (Adewale et al, 2013). The concept proposed operating principles and guidelines for stakeholders with different background and diverse interests to come together and critically analyse agricultural challenges, develop solutions and translate them into achievable targets. This operation brings the concerned actors to work together towards the fulfilment of common goals (Buruchara et al, 2013a). Rwanda and Uganda (Farrow et al, 2013)

Methods

Results

Conclusion