RURAL INNOVATION

SYSTEM
RURAL INNOVATION

 -importance
 -meaning
 -evidence
 -innovation systems
 -lessons for intervention
What do we mean by “Rural
Innovation”?
 It is processes that take place when
knowledge, technology or information is
made available and is put to use in socially
progressive and economically productive
ways by a group of linked actors
(organizations/individuals) in rural areas.
 It demands the capacity to access, adapt and
apply knowledge to specific contexts, and to
learn and evolve continuously.
Innovation System
Agricultural Innovation
System
Innovation and New
Agriculture
Empirical evidence – some case
studies of rural innovation
 Packaging-transport-tomatoes- Himachal
 Energy efficient devices – Kerala, Karnataka
 Systems of Rice Intensification- A.P./T.N.
 Spirulina- T.N.
 Pomegranate, NRM – Solapur
 Lac – Jabalpur
 Mahua – Jabalpur, Bhopal
 Pineapple processing - Gajapati
 Small scale fisheries – Kerala
 Vanilla – Kerala
 Traditional/herbal health care – Karnataka
 Mango –processing, export- A.P.
 Textiles – Pochampalli – A.P.
 Textiles – traditional weaving- Agor – Assam
 Fodder systems – M.P.,A.P. Gujarat
………+ livestock, horticulture, traditional health care, etc. in East Africa
(action research, facilitated capacity development, workshops, seminars, institutional analysis, etc)
Innovation systems framework –
for analysis of rural innovation
 Process of change in rural areas
(not artifacts/technologies)
 Involves several sources of knowledge/skills
(technology is only one among several…)
 Continuous cycles of learning and change
(transfer of technology is a myth)
 Enabling institutional arrangements
(organizations/individuals are not enough)

30/3/07 Raina, R.S.

Operationalising the Innovation
Systems framework –
--- from analysis to intervention
 develop sector-based strategies/ interactive policy
research (Mode II)
 identify missing domains – and actors
(organizations/individuals) in each domain
 conduct stakeholder dialogues – identify points of
entry/intervention, M&E mechanisms, nodes of
learning and change,
 assess actor linkages, investment options.

(for example for donor agencies (DFID, World Bank) policy

organizations (Planning Commission, DST) specific programmes
(CPHP, Schemes of the Govt.), research organizations/consortium
(CIMMYT-IRRI (RWC), CGIAR, ILRI) etc.--)
Lessons for the State – for
intervention and governance
 Institutional change – or changes in ways of
working/rules/norms in major actors
--Stimulate interactions, communication and convergence among different
Ministries, Departments within, public-private-civil society actors,
farmers/farm labour groups, etc.
--Rural/agricultural technology must be nested within wider livelihood options
and innovation systems with proven benefits to the rural poor
 Policy to work pro-actively with high potential
actors
--CSOs --Financial/other intermediary organizations --Private and other
local capital --Networks
Lessons for Industry – for
investment and sustainable
growth
 Investment – in innovation capacities of producers,
producer organizations, intermediaries
--Intermediary domains (banks, local traders, extension services, other service
providers, --) are crucial sources of information and can reduce transaction costs

--Enabling scale effects in agriculture – especially through aggregation at the farm

level, creation of value addition opportunities in villages/nodes,

--Improving quality, safety and overall product market performance

 Pro-poor and rural innovation is not anti-private
profits –
--Joint financing and governing mechanisms with local Governments – enhancing
trust & transparency,