This was how a RAAIS (Rapid Appraisal of Agricultural Innovation Systems) workshop participant in Nigeria described his experience. It reflects the objective that we had in mind when developing RAAIS. We wanted to develop a simple, participatory, diagnostic tool for integrated systems analysis of agricultural problems. RAAIS facilitates the analysis of: Interactions between different dimensions, levels and stakeholder dynamics of complex agricultural problems; Innovation capacity in agrifood systems; The existence and performance of the agricultural innovation system. RAAIS can … [Read more...]
Boosting Plantain Production and Improving Access to Markets in Nigeria
Plantain is one of the major crops of smallholder farmers in Nigeria. It is produced both for food consumption in the households and for cash through its transformation into various products that are marketed. Using Humidtropics' integrated systems approach, a team of researchers from FARA and IITA is working with key actors in the Nigeria Action Site to improve the plantain value chain (i.e. to effectively deliver valuable plantain products to the market, and to customers). Using the Rapid Appraisal of Agricultural Innovation Systems (RAAIS) diagnostic tool, the four Innovation Platforms … [Read more...]
Better Management of Rubber Plantations to Reduce Environmental Impacts in China
According to the recently released Humidtropics Situational Analysis report for Xishuangbanna Prefecture, Yunnan, China, the region was an area of extreme biodiversity and cultural diversity, although much of that biodiversity has now been lost to monoculture rubber plantations. The Situational Analysis summarizes the situation of rural development, agriculture and environment as it is perceived by expert opinion and literature evidence, as of 2014/2015. This report is the second Situational Analysis to be completed in the Central Mekong Action Area. It was conducted during the stages of … [Read more...]