Interactions among actors in improved rice varieties innovation system in the Eastern Zone of Tanzania

Abstract

The concept of IS has gained importance in understanding the interactions among actors as determinants of innovation. Determinants of innovation are not viewed individually but within the context of a complex IS involving many actors and interactions. Therefore, this study examined the interactions among actors in the IRVIS in the Eastern Zone of Tanzania. Structured interviews, focus group discussion and documentary review methods were used in data collection. Both content and social network analysis were used to depict the different actors’ interactions in the IRVIS. The findings show that the intensity of actors’ interactions ranged from weak to medium. IRVIS is thus characterized by asymmetric power relationship among actors causing asymmetric knowledge and information flow. TARI, MATI, policymakers and DCs were important and influential over other actors; hence they largely control the knowledge flow of IRVs. The FIs, traders and millers had the least influence with weak interactions, and hence played peripheral roles. Farmers were the most prominent, but had the least influence on other actors. The study recommends that more effort be made to strengthen actors’ interactions in the IRVIS for an increase of knowledge and information sharing among actors, so as to increase the use of IRVs and improve rice productivity.

Keywords:

• Actors
• improved rice varieties
• innovation system
• interaction
• knowledge and information

Acknowledgements

We thank the former employer and current employer Sokoine University of Agriculture and Mvomero District Council, respectively, for providing study leave that has enabled the successful conducting of this study. We would also like to extend our sincere gratitude to the different reviewers of this paper for their invaluable comments and insights.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.