Understanding the relations between farmers’ seed demand and research methods: the challenge to do better
Author: | Almekinders, C. |
Author: | Beumer, K. |
Author: | Hauser, M. |
Author: | Misiko, M.T. |
Author: | Gatto, M. |
Author: | Nkurumwa, A.O. |
Author: | Erenstein, O. |
Year: | 2019 |
ISSN: | 0030-7270 |
ISSN: | 2043-6866 (Online) |
URI: | https://hdl.handle.net/10883/20516 |
Abstract: | Although the development of improved seeds has witnessed significant advances over the last decades, the adoption of improved seeds and varieties by smallholder farmers is variable. This suggests that research methods for studying farmers’ seed demand are not yielding information that reflects the real-life decisions and behaviours of farmers in the choice and acquisition of their seeds. We suggest that research methods for analysing farmers’ seed demand shape seed availability. This is supported by the theory of social life of methods. We argue that access to and attractiveness of seed are highly context-specific for a farmer, for example, influenced by his/her social position, the role of the crop or variety in the farming system, the linkage to the market, agro-ecological conditions, and that context is highly variable. We also argue that many of our research methods are weak on capturing real-life context and provide fragmented snapshot-nature understanding and biases of farmers preferences and needs for seeds. We call for more integrated understanding of seed systems as a whole and a more holistic methodological research approach that better captures the variable real-life context of farmers while providing the metrics that are needed by seed actors and policymakers to enable informed decisions. |
Format: | |
Language: | English |
Publisher: | SAGE Publishing |
Copyright: | CIMMYT manages Intellectual Assets as International Public Goods. The user is free to download, print, store and share this work. In case you want to translate or create any other derivative work and share or distribute such translation/derivative work, please contact CIMMYT-Knowledge-Center@cgiar.org indicating the work you want to use and the kind of use you intend; CIMMYT will contact you with the suitable license for that purpose. |
Type: | Article |
Place of Publication: | United Kingdom |
Pages: | 16-21 |
Issue: | 1 |
Volume: | 48 |
DOI: | 10.1177/0030727019827028 |
Agrovoc: | FARMERS' ATTITUDES |
Agrovoc: | INNOVATION ADOPTION |
Agrovoc: | RESEARCH METHODS |
Journal: | Outlook on Agriculture |
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Socioeconomics
Including topics such as farming systems, markets, impact & targeting, innovations, and GIS -
Sustainable Intensification
Sustainable intensification agriculture including topics on cropping systems, agronomy, soil, mechanization, precision agriculture, etc.