User-producer interactions: Policy implications for developing appropriate innovations for small-scale agricultural production in sub-Saharan Africa

Abstract

The dearth of technological progress in small-scale agricultural activities in sub-Saharan Africa has been majorly attributed to inappropriate innovations. This study employs the user-producer approach to recommend mechanisms to ensure the development of appropriate innovations for the sector. An analytical framework consisting of five types of policy actions which could foster the development appropriate innovations was developed from the approach to execute a qualitative analysis on a series of successful and failed attempts to mechanize small-scale oil palm fruit processing in Nigeria. The study revealed that initial technologies introduced failed because they were made to process other raw materials, were beyond the financial capability of processors and culturally incompatible. More successful innovations were found to be those developed in conjunction with processors. Recommended mechanisms include mandating and supporting research institutions to determine the needs of smallholders before R&D activities commence; funding the adoption and debugging of adopted technologies to further align technologies with smallholder needs; encouraging linkages among research institutions to enhance capabilities for problem solving; and increasing the number and types of research institutions in the sector to reduce the imposition of innovations.