Show simple item record

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: PDF
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


Files in this item

Thumbnail

This item appears in the following Collection(s)

  • 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.

Show simple item record