The Innovation Platform for Technology Adoption

The Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA) supports the Sub-regional Research Organisations (SROs) and the National Agricultural Research Systems (NARS) to improve stakeholders access to information and proven technologies and good agricultural practices /innovations to enhance agricultural production and productivity. One of FARA initiatives, the Dissemination of New Agricultural Technologies in Africa (DONATA) funded by the African development Bank (AfDB) through the promotion of science and technology for agricultural development (PSTAD) has adopted the innovations platform to encourage stakeholders especially farmers to adopt improved practices in 24 Low income countries of Africa.

The Innovation Platform for Technology Adoption is a multi-stakeholder forum for learning and sharing of ideas, information, proven technologies, good and innovative practices. It involves researchers, extension personnel, farmers, service providers, etc coming together to address the challenges involved in the increased production and productivity of a given commodity using the value chain approach. The initiative which is implemented with selected commodities including maize (especially quality protein maize - QPM), sorghum, orange fleshed sweet potatoes, and cassava can be extended to other commodities.

In the group discussion of this approach for out-scaling and what AFAAS could do in the process, some of the key concerns of the participants were in respect of

i.                     Who drives the approach – it was explained that that though it was initially driven by research, extension, farmers, and processors have come to drive the process; it usually depends on the point of entry into the commodity value chain.

ii.                   As regards the achievements made, participants were referred to one of FARA’s publication titled Making Things Happen which records some of the success stories from use of the approach. The most significant achievement as an extension approach is the integrated approach toresolving challenges on the commodity value chain through sharing of information, experiences and knowledge by the stakeholders on the platform. This enables quick solutions to problems and to take advantage of available opportunities to improve the situation of members of the forum.

iii.                  The key challenges are how these were and are being addressed were also explained.

iv.                  The role of ICT in the use of the approach in facilitating contact, information, knowledge and experience sharing was also explained and this is promoted by a sister initiative called RAILS.

How to Scale Out the Approach

As the IPTA approach is already in use in target areas in 24 countries in Africa, the group believed that the best way to out scale the approach is to use documented evidence of success to enlighten relevant stakeholders in other areas about the approach and this can be done by the AFAAS country fora.

What AFAAS Should

AFAAS should study the IPTA approach with a view to promoting its use to address the emerging demands on Extension Services across its country fora. The country fora should be enlightened about and encouraged to use the IPTA approach to re-orient extension services along commodity value chains to enhance production, market access, value addition, influence research agenda/approach as well as for mobilizing agricultural credit and support of service providers.