PROmoting Local INNOVAtion in ecologically-oriented agriculture and NRM What can be done with farmers’ innovations?

Local innovation: IK on the move Indigenous knowledge (IK) is dynamic – farmers innovate on their own initiative, out of curiosity or necessity Local innovation: indigenous process of discovering new and better ways of doing things (innovations) It may not be appropriate to disseminate “best” local innovations as if they were widely applicable solutions. Many local innovations are locally specific and cannot be directly transferred to other areas, but … Their wider sharing provides ideas and inspiration for others to try and innovate in their own way

Why identify local innovations? Research and development (R&D) agents can recognise farmers as pro-active, creative sources of good ideas, real partners in R&D. Farmers see themselves in this way and are encouraged to innovate even more. Local innovations offer entry points into participatory research and development: - combining local and external knowledge, - with the aim to strengthen local capacities to adapt quickly to changing conditions - and, thus, to improve rural livelihoods

What to do with the innovations identified? Information exchange: documentation and sharing good ideas with other farmers Participatory Innovation Development (PID): farmers, scientists and development workers develop the ideas further in joint research Policy influence carried out by all partners who document farmer innovation and engage in PID

Promoting local innovation through information exchange Documenting local innovations: creating database of innovations according to theme and geographical area, as source of information and inspiration for others Organising study tours: men and women farmers visit innovators in geographically similar areas Using mass media: - Radio and TV broadcasts featuring farmer innovators and their innovations and experiments - Newspaper and magazine articles about local innovation and experimentation

Promoting local innovation through info exchange (cont.) Publishing booklets and brochures on farmer (group) innovations and experiments, with photos and/or drawings and innovators’ names Inviting farmer innovators to present their innovations and experiments to university students and at conferences on rural development Organising exhibitions of farmer innovations – new products, new types of organisation (possibly shown through photos and videos made by farmers) This helps to stimulate ideas among others and motivates farmer innovators by giving recognition to their creativity and accomplishments.

Promoting local innovation through PID Identifying local innovations (technical + socio-institutional) Joint analysis of local innovations: opportunities and problems Selecting what to explore more deeply Community-led participatory research Jointly analysing and sharing results Sustaining PID process: strengthening farmer research groups / organisations + linking them with each other and with service providers

Process of PID with farmer groups Identifying local innovators or innovating groups and their innovations Encouraging other farmers to assess these innovations Facilitating formation of groups of farmers interested in exploring innovations of their choice Organising study visits to compare similar technologies or initiatives

Process of PID with farmer groups (cont.) Collaboration of farmers and development workers and/or scientists in designing and implementing joint experiments to explore innovations of common interest Organising visits by other farmers to discuss and analyse the local experiments and their outcomes Supporting farmer experimenters / innovators to serve as trainers / advisors for others interested in PID

PID as an approach to development Most PID is being done by farmers and development agents without formal researchers PID is particularly important in remote, marginal, risk- prone and highly diverse areas where „blanket solutions“ cannot be applied PID is intended primarily to strengthen capacity of communities to adapt to changing conditions – an ongoing process … Combating land degradation and improving food security on the basis of local inputs, creativity and motivation, building on existing initiatives

Using local innovations and PID to influence policymakers Showing how innovations relevant for smallholder farmers can be generated Influencing how public funds for R&D are used Using examples of farmer innovation to influence policy related to agriculture and NRM, e.g. land use rights Encouraging institutions of agricultural research, extension and education to recognise farmers’ knowledge and innovation and to integrate PID Strong role in policy influence can be played by farmer groups / organisations engaged in PID

Women’s innovation in poultry keeping in KwaZulu-Natal Thank you for your attention