Project Abstract

Abstract
Communication plays a crucial role in the agricultural research and innovation process, as it facilitates the exchange of information, ideas, and knowledge among various stakeholders, including researchers, farmers, policymakers, and other relevant actors. Effective communication ensures that research findings are disseminated in a timely manner, leading to the adoption of innovative practices and technologies that can enhance agricultural productivity and sustainability. In the context of agricultural research and innovation, communication serves multiple purposes. It helps to identify research priorities by engaging with stakeholders to understand their needs and challenges. By involving farmers and other end-users in the research process, communication ensures that the research is relevant, practical, and applicable to real-world situations. Moreover, communication plays a key role in translating complex scientific information into accessible and actionable knowledge that can be easily understood and applied by farmers and other stakeholders. Engaging in effective communication can also help bridge the gap between researchers and farmers, fostering collaboration and mutual understanding. By establishing two-way communication channels, researchers can receive feedback from farmers on the relevance and impact of their work, enabling them to make adjustments and improvements based on real-world experiences and insights. This participatory approach to communication not only enhances the quality and relevance of research outcomes but also builds trust and credibility among stakeholders. Furthermore, communication is essential for promoting the adoption of research findings and innovations. By disseminating information through various channels such as extension services, workshops, field days, and digital platforms, researchers can reach a wider audience and facilitate the uptake of new practices and technologies. Effective communication strategies can help overcome barriers to adoption, such as lack of awareness, knowledge, or resources, by providing targeted information and support to farmers and other stakeholders. In conclusion, communication is a critical component of the agricultural research and innovation process, enabling the exchange of knowledge, ideas, and experiences among diverse stakeholders. By fostering collaboration, engagement, and knowledge sharing, effective communication can enhance the impact and relevance of research outcomes, leading to sustainable agricultural development and improved livelihoods for farmers. Emphasizing communication in agricultural research and innovation efforts is essential for realizing the full potential of scientific advancements and ensuring their practical application in the field.

Project Overview

1.0              Background to the study

In an article on sustainability and technology transfer, Richard Wilk (1995), an American anthropologist, mentioned a file folder of materials that he had accumulated over several years. The file contained 25 separate project proposals, feasibility studies, implementation plans, and project assessments. Submitted over a period of a century, all these studies considered commercializing the production of edible palm oil from a tree native to the Belizean rainforest. In each of these initiatives, imported cracking and rendering technologies developed for use in other tropical palm-oil industries were tried. Despite easy access to dense, high-yield tree stands, all these projects failed, even those with direct government subsidies. Throughout this period, household production of edible oil by indigenous people, using a variety of simple, local technologies, never stopped.

According to Grenier (1998), this story prompts several important questions: Did anyone bother to ask the local people who, how, where, when, and why of their local palm-oil production system? By learning about the local production system, could the proponents have avoided any of these costly failures? If the researchers had established joint ventures with the communities, could development objectives and sustainable-development goals have been served? If participatory technology-development techniques had been tried, could hybrid technologies (a combination of indigenous and foreign inputs) have yielded successful ventures? What would have been the outcome had any of these proponents worked with the indigenous people.