This thesis examines the effect of a large government programme known as the MiDA programme on small scale pineapple farmers' innovation system and processes in the Nsawam Adoagyire Municipal Assembly of Ghana. The thesis uses Agricultural Innovation System (AIS) as a conceptual basis to examine the MiDA programme. This research is situated within the debate of whether or not large scale agricultural development intervention programmes help in facilitating innovations principally amongst farmers and other stakeholders involved in the innovation system and processes. The study compared responses from farmers that benefited from the MiDA intervention (MiDA FBOs) and farmers that did not (non-MiDA FBOs). The study adopted mixed methods of quantitative and qualitative approaches. The quantitative approach made use of a questionnaire survey instrument whilst the qualitative approaches employed FGDs, KIIs, social network analysis, participatory budgeting and document analysis. The study indicates that the MiDA programme facilitated the use of innovations including efficient marketing, tractor usage, business plan development, use of the MD2 variety, diversification of farm activities and recognition of the value chain. However the results show that stakeholders in the innovation system and processes did not work together as one organized unit but independent of other stakeholders. The training component of the programme encouraged interactive learning and exchange of ideas. MiDA and non-MiDA FBOs innovate through trainings received from MoFA and NGOs, accidental discovery/observation, discussion and influence from big commercial farms but MiDA FBOs had more examples to illustrate ways through which they innovate. The linkages between MoF A and MiDA FBOs improved as a result of the implementation of the MiDA programme. MiDA FBOs obtained a higher profit in sucker production than the non-MiDA FBOs. It can be concluded that the MiDA programme facilitated innovations amongst the assisted farmers and this is attributed to the alignment to the AIS approach in areas where successes were observed. This implies that large scale programmes that employs the AIS approach in its design and implementation has a greater potential in facilitating and stimulating innovation.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:bl.uk/oai:ethos.bl.uk:658007 |
| Date | January 2014 |
| Creators | Ankrah, Daniel Adu |
| Publisher | University of Reading |
| Source Sets | Ethos UK |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Electronic Thesis or Dissertation |
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