Agricultural innovation systems in system of Rice intensification in Tripura /
Bhattacharjee, Suchiradipta
Agricultural innovation systems in system of Rice intensification in Tripura / by Suchiradipta Bhattacharjee - Umiam : CPGS, CAU c2013 - [26], 133p. : ill, some col.; - A thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the award of the degree of Master of Science(Agriculture) in Agricultural Extension .
In a world where food insecurity is looming large and agriculture demands to be more knowledge driven, Agricultural Innovation System (AIS) is definitely an answer for recognising and involving all the actors in the system that generate, disseminate and use information and technology. To gain self sufficiency in its principle food grain rice, the Tripura state of North East India has been relying on System of Rice Intensification (SRI) for past seven years. In the state, SRI has become a mass movement with full participation of research organizations, public extension system, local decentralized administrative units, the farmers and their collectives and media to create awareness. So the study was conducted in the state to understand the actors and factors of the innovation systems in SRI that has contributed in making SRI a success in the state and its implications in the state and the country. The organizations in the SRI innovation systems were selected by criterion sampling and the respondents were selected by both criterion and expert sampling after interviews with key informants and focussed group discussions. Actor Linkage Matrix (ALM), Typology of actors, Stakeholder Analysis following Mandelow's power-interest matrix and Social Network Analysis software were used for analysing the data collected through interview and focussed group discussion method. Since its up-scaling in farmers' field in 2006-'07 till 2011-'12, SRI has been gaining momentum in the state with efforts from all the stakeholders and assistance from the right policies. The actors in the SRI innovation systems has played various roles according to their type of organization and has taken up action accordingly to achieve their targets set in SRI expansion in the state. It was facilitated by the fairly strong relationship of the actors among themselves and the interactive learning the stakeholders have assisted each other in increasing their knowledge base and efficiency in SRI. While Department of Agriculture (DoA) has been a key player in the SRI innovation systems in the state , the unique role had been played by the local administrative units, the Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) in creating mass awareness about SRI and providing assistance in development of the cultivators. But then again, though the farmers have allocated all their resources in SRI, they had little access to decision making in resource allocation and policy implementation in the state. But encouragingly, all the actors had a good information network in both the districts with lead actors like DoA, PRIs and farmers interacting very frequently. The AIS in SRI in Tripura had its own weaknesses like farmers were more the receiver of technology than being generator: media being an isolate in Dhalai district and policies like MGNREGS having a negative impact on the income of SRI farmers through high labour cost or unavailability of labour.. But an incresed interaction among the actors, especially the DoA, PRIs and farmers, can easily overcome these problems. Integration of stakeholders has promoted knowledge management, sharing, and learning in SRI innovation systems in the state which can be effectively applied in other crops and sectors in the state and the country.
Agricultural innovations
Rice intensification--Tripura
33.16095415
Agricultural innovation systems in system of Rice intensification in Tripura / by Suchiradipta Bhattacharjee - Umiam : CPGS, CAU c2013 - [26], 133p. : ill, some col.; - A thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the award of the degree of Master of Science(Agriculture) in Agricultural Extension .
In a world where food insecurity is looming large and agriculture demands to be more knowledge driven, Agricultural Innovation System (AIS) is definitely an answer for recognising and involving all the actors in the system that generate, disseminate and use information and technology. To gain self sufficiency in its principle food grain rice, the Tripura state of North East India has been relying on System of Rice Intensification (SRI) for past seven years. In the state, SRI has become a mass movement with full participation of research organizations, public extension system, local decentralized administrative units, the farmers and their collectives and media to create awareness. So the study was conducted in the state to understand the actors and factors of the innovation systems in SRI that has contributed in making SRI a success in the state and its implications in the state and the country. The organizations in the SRI innovation systems were selected by criterion sampling and the respondents were selected by both criterion and expert sampling after interviews with key informants and focussed group discussions. Actor Linkage Matrix (ALM), Typology of actors, Stakeholder Analysis following Mandelow's power-interest matrix and Social Network Analysis software were used for analysing the data collected through interview and focussed group discussion method. Since its up-scaling in farmers' field in 2006-'07 till 2011-'12, SRI has been gaining momentum in the state with efforts from all the stakeholders and assistance from the right policies. The actors in the SRI innovation systems has played various roles according to their type of organization and has taken up action accordingly to achieve their targets set in SRI expansion in the state. It was facilitated by the fairly strong relationship of the actors among themselves and the interactive learning the stakeholders have assisted each other in increasing their knowledge base and efficiency in SRI. While Department of Agriculture (DoA) has been a key player in the SRI innovation systems in the state , the unique role had been played by the local administrative units, the Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) in creating mass awareness about SRI and providing assistance in development of the cultivators. But then again, though the farmers have allocated all their resources in SRI, they had little access to decision making in resource allocation and policy implementation in the state. But encouragingly, all the actors had a good information network in both the districts with lead actors like DoA, PRIs and farmers interacting very frequently. The AIS in SRI in Tripura had its own weaknesses like farmers were more the receiver of technology than being generator: media being an isolate in Dhalai district and policies like MGNREGS having a negative impact on the income of SRI farmers through high labour cost or unavailability of labour.. But an incresed interaction among the actors, especially the DoA, PRIs and farmers, can easily overcome these problems. Integration of stakeholders has promoted knowledge management, sharing, and learning in SRI innovation systems in the state which can be effectively applied in other crops and sectors in the state and the country.
Agricultural innovations
Rice intensification--Tripura
33.16095415