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Knowledge integration and the adoption of new agricultural technologies: Kenyan perspectives

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Abstract

Despite gains in agricultural yields, access to food remains a serious challenge in many parts of the world. It is now recognized that improving food security requires a more integrated understanding of food systems and that key under-explored areas of these systems are likely to be crucial in developing effective policy change. In Kenya, institutional changes have occurred to facilitate knowledge integration within the agricultural sector. Drawing on the experiences and understandings of key stakeholders in Kenya, this paper aims to identify and better understand the barriers to knowledge integration for improved agricultural technologies and their adoption. A number of barriers to the flow of knowledge to and from those working to develop new agricultural technologies and farmers are identified. The results of this study suggest a potential link between farmers’ levels of community organization and levels of trust with levels of knowledge integration surrounding agricultural technologies and their adoption. The findings suggest that increasing the planning and follow-up of newly introduced agricultural technologies has the potential to encourage interdisciplinary approaches and improve food security outcomes.

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Notes

  1. This study forms part of a broader exploration of the institutional factors affecting knowledge integration for sustainable food security in Kenya (Hickey and Muhammad 2011).

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Acknowledgements

This research has been funded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) of Canada (861-2009-1104). In addition, this work was carried out with the aid of a grant from the International Development Research Centre, Ottawa, Canada, and with the financial support of the Government of Canada provided through the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA). We are grateful for the strong research support provided by Dr. Leigh Brownhill and Dr. Bernard Pelletier, McGill University. We would also like to thank the research participants who donated their time and knowledge to our study. The valuable comments from three anonymous reviewers are acknowledged.

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Correspondence to Colleen M. Eidt.

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Eidt, C.M., Hickey, G.M. & Curtis, M.A. Knowledge integration and the adoption of new agricultural technologies: Kenyan perspectives. Food Sec. 4, 355–367 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12571-012-0175-2

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