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- Convenors:
-
Zainab Oyetunde-Usman
(University of Greenwich)
Oyinlola Ogunpaimo (Teagasc Irish Development Authority)
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- Formats:
- Papers Mixed
- Stream:
- Third sector leaders
- Sessions:
- Thursday 18 June, -, -
Time zone: Europe/London
Short Abstract:
Collective institutions, such as social networks or cultural, religious, market or credit groups, can play a vital leadership role in promoting or constraining rural innovation at household level. This panel will explore the diversities of collective leadership platforms and their impact.
Long Abstract:
What influences rural households towards or against adopting innovations? One under-researched factor is the role of existing social networks and institutions, such as cultural, religious, market or credit groups. These collective platforms may provide support through promoting discussion, providing direction or guidance, knowledge sharing, financial support and resource pooling. However, there is little understanding of the roles of different kinds of platforms, their interrelation with each other and how they promote or constrain rural innovation. Research is also lacking into the ways in which rural people view the different forms of collective institution, and the mechanisms by which these might have an impact on household level decision-making.
This panel welcomes submissions that concern the following and related questions: How do different kinds of collective institutions come to play a leadership role with respect to rural innovation? What differences exist in the roles of collective leadership platforms in promoting or constraining rural innovation? What roles do their aims as institutions play in this? What patterns are evident e.g. by gender, wealth or age, in the ways that different members of households, and households with different structures or social positions, are integrated into and interact with different forms of collective institutions? What factors enable institutions to move beyond individuals or limited networks, to become genuinely collective resources? What kinds of institutions, under what kinds of conditions, are best placed to become the kind of collective leadership platform that supports innovations which will improve household welfare and help to meet global challenges?
Accepted papers:
Session 1 Thursday 18 June, 2020, -Linda Nakato (University of Agder) Roy Mersland (University og Agder)
Paper short abstract:
Savings groups are increasingly being encouraged to form relationships with formal financial institutions. We investigate the influence that linkages with formal financial institutions have on the financial performance of savings groups.
Paper long abstract:
Using a matched sample of data on 3598 savings groups from 32 countries, this paper is the first to carry out a rigorous empirical investigation of the relationship between financial linkages and savings groups' financial performance. Our empirical analysis is based on a sample extracted from the Savings Groups Information Exchange (SAVIX), a global data set that collects standardized data on over 250,000 savings groups. We find that linkage through savings significantly enhances the performance of groups as evidenced by the increase in savings per member and the return on savings. This suggests that members gain confidence in the safety that an account with a formal financial institution provides. This is, however, achieved at a cost as the fund utilization rate, i.e. the share of the available fund that is lent out to the members, reduces for savings linked groups probably due to the fact that group funds are now "locked up" in a formal financial institution. On the other hand, credit linkage significantly reduces the savings per member and the return of savings which suggests that the infusion of external capital into the group is detrimental to the financial performance of these groups and thus curtails the wealth-creation of individual members. We complement the empirical study with a qualitative field study to better understand the statistical results obtained.
Oyinlola Ogunpaimo (Teagasc Irish Development Authority) Zainab Oyetunde-Usman (University of Greenwich) Olaiwola Ogunpaimo (University of Galway)
Paper short abstract:
Credit institutions as collective institutions could serve to promote technological adoption. This paper investigates how cooperative societies, micro credit institutions and informal saving groups aid in rural farm households' adoption of climate change adaptation strategies.
Paper long abstract:
The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development aim to achieve developmental posterity in responding to climate change and sustaining natural resources, food and agriculture remain crucial aspects of the SDG goals. Given these discouraging prospects of climate change, it is no surprise that the adaptation strategies are vital to improve the welfare of rural farm households. These strategies can indeed buffer against climate change and play crucial roles in reducing the food insecurity and poverty status of these households. Climate change adaptation strategies (CCA) are often regarded as technological innovation needed essentially by rural farm household who are worse hit by climate change to combat its negative effects. There exist over time debates on the directional relationships between credit and technological adoption among the academia therefore this paper sought to understand the roles of credit institutions in promoting its members accessibility and utilization of climate change adaptation strategies. The study utilizes the World Bank Living Standard Measurement Survey panel data on farming households from 2010-2016 which were obtained from all the thirty six states of the country including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). Assessing the effect of micro credit, co-operative and informal savings institutions on the probability of adopting irrigation facilities, crop diversification, alley cropping and diversification in nonfarm activities provides evidence into the importance of collective institutions on rural farm households technological adoption potentials.
As evidenced by the research findings the work of a range of authors, this paper will argue that credit institutions have mixed impacts on technological adoption
Ranjini Canchi Raghavendra (Public Health Foundation of India)
Paper short abstract:
ASHAs in India connect the rural population with the public health system. This paper focusses on their collective effort in raising their voice with the State. The paper highlights the important role they play at rural households in improving health care towards meeting global health goals.
Paper long abstract:
Over 35,000 Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs) working in about 29,000 villages of Karnataka in India organised a massive rally and a day long protest in Bengaluru recently. Since the last 10 years ASHAs have played an important role in improving health in remote, rural areas, reducing maternal and infant mortality. They are honorary volunteers and receive performance-based compensation based on reported activities. They are involved in a range of services such as antenatal care, institutional deliveries at a government facility, immunisation, follow up of low-birth weight babies, spacing of birth between children, health surveys among many othera. They work long hours, however the compensation is not just highly disproportionate to the work they do, but also very irregular. The payments are dependent on the data entry operators/approval of intermediaries at the Primary Health Centres.
They have been recently demanding better wages and work conditions. For example they work as DOT providers for tuberculosis treatment and bring samples to the health centres. However, they are not even provided safety gloves. ASHAs accompany pregnant women (during delivery) and children for treatment even during odd hours and to distant health facilities. However, they do not have a resting room and sometimes even staff in those health facilities are not supportive and do not treat them properly.
In response to their demands the State has threatened to withdraw their honorarium. If their concerns are not addressed the backbone of the public health collective at the grassroot level will be crippled.
Sara Grobbelaar (Stellenbosch University) Adedamola Adeyeye (National Centre for Technology. Management)
Paper short abstract:
Using the systemic policy approach in Nigerian agricultural innovation system, the study assesses the role of intermediary associations in driving the development, diffusion, market formation, and legitimacy of the electronic wallet system among rural smallholders in Nigeria.
Paper long abstract:
The electronic wallet system has been proved to be a successful innovation in driving agricultural productivity and inclusiveness in rural areas in Nigeria. The system was designed to empower smallholder farmers through provision of agricultural inputs at subsidized rates by using vouchers accessible to farmers on their mobile phones. This represents a bold effort in Nigeria to reach millions of farmers, who are mostly individuals living at the base of the pyramid (BoP). Despite this, the role of intermediary associations and farmers' collective groups in driving the adoption and diffusion of this innovation has not been accorded the necessary recognition in literature.
This paper presents the preliminary findings of a study designed to evaluate the performance of innovation for inclusive development in Nigeria's agricultural innovation system. Using a mix-method methodology to collect data from the different actors in the e-wallet system, this paper assesses the role of intermediary institutions in facilitating learning, interaction and knowledge diffusion within local communities in Nigeria. The study is built on the systemic policy framework which combines the functional innovation system and the components of innovation system frameworks. The study found that intermediary associations play an important role in the development, diffusion, market formation and facilitating legitimacy of the e- wallet system among rural smallholders. The study concluded that since formal interactions between the different actors of innovations systems within developing countries are weak, diffusion of innovations should embrace informal interactions through social networks of which intermediary associations play a leading role.
Rebecca Sarku (University for Development)
Paper short abstract:
The continual occurrence of crop pests and diseases each farming season prompts collective action problem and questions. The study analysis how smallholder farmers use collective institutions and platforms to control and prevent crop pests and diseases in farming in Ghana.
Paper long abstract:
Rural farming in developing country context is challenged by varied socio-ecological factors such as crop pest and disease infestation. Smallholder farmers in Ghana are not exempted from these socio-ecological challenges. Various scientific domains and stakeholders have attempted several remedies including integrated pest management. However, the continual occurrence of crop pests and diseases each farming season prompts collective action problem and questions. Until now, it is not clear how farmers use collective institutions and platforms to manage pests and diseases in farming. This study fills the research gap by focusing on smallholder farming practices in Ghana, specifically, the Ada East District. Theories of knowledge, practices, public bad, and collective action is linked to achieve the objective of the research. A combination of qualitative methods: semi-structured interviews, home and field visits, community meetings and workshops, and participant observations were used to derived data. Farmers demonstrated collective knowledge on the causes of pests and diseases with their local knowledge. Each crop pest and disease condition was ascribed a collective local name; yet, farmers had little knowledge about the scientific names and causes. Individuals and farmer groups lead in several ways in managing conditions on the farm. Even so, collective actions are rarely effective due to the breakdown in existing collective platforms such as social networks, institutions, and culture. The study concludes that market forces, ICTs and growing demand for food enhances or obstructs collective actions among farmers leading to the emergence of diverse leadership styles in managing crop pest and diseases.
Rashid Mpinganjira (African Institute of Corporate Citizenship)
Paper short abstract:
Collective action occurs when individuals contribute to achieve an outcome.In Malawi African Institute for Corporate Citizenship has championed the establishment of four commodity based value chains in different platforms. The platforms have enabled stakeholders to to benefit from value chains.
Paper long abstract:
Collective action refers to organized agency by a group to promote its own interests. Collective action occurs when more than one individual is required to contribute to an effort in order to achieve an outcome. Acting collectively towards a given common or individual objective has been considered key in every investment focusing on market. In this regards, value chain platforms is one of the tools where actors meet and commit to partner, coordinate and learn from each other towards sustainable profits. Coordination implies a set of two or more actors who perform tasks in order to achieve goals. In Malawi the African Institute for Corporate Citizenship (AICC) has championed the establishment of four commodity based value chains in different platforms namely Legumes, Rice and cotton platforms. The platforms thus linked the entire system and enables the partners to see the sector as a system and understand important linkages that need to be exploited. The platforms on the face value comprise all stakeholders along the value chain and they are aimed at coordinating and enhancing collaboration amongst value chain players along the following four key thematic areas: Production; Market Development; Processing and Value addition and Institutional development. The platforms helped organize farmers to have one voice. Platforms have also been key in advocating government strategies. Platforms have been key in promotion of improved varieties thereby boosting productivity.
Mosunmola Toluse (University of Ibadan)
Paper short abstract:
The study examined how agricultural cooperatives influence credit access and marketing services of farmers in Ido Local Government Area (LGA) of Oyo State. Using multistage sampling procedure, data were collected through the use of structured questionnaires administered on one hundred respondents.
Paper long abstract:
The study examined how agricultural cooperatives influence credit access and marketing services of farmers in Ido Local Government Area of Oyo State. Using multistage sampling procedure, data were collected through the use of structured questionnaires administered on one hundred respondents from the study area. The data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics, principal component analysis, Logit and Tobit regression to explain the effects of agricultural cooperatives on credit access and marketing services. The findings on socio-economic characteristics of the respondents revealed that 59 percent of the respondents were female. It showed that 42 percent of the respondents have no formal education and 54 percent were less than 51 years of age. Majority of the cooperatives were formal but had no access to external sources of funds. The result of the Tobit regression, which was adopted to assess the effects of agricultural cooperatives on marketing services of farmers, showed that 5 out of the 10 explanatory variables were significant on the dependent variable (marketing services) at different alpha levels. The result of the Logistic regression, which was adopted to assess the effects of agricultural cooperatives on credit access of farmers, showed that 5 out of the 10 explanatory variables were significant on the dependent variable (access to credit) at different alpha levels. The study also revealed that the cooperatives are faced with various challenges. It was therefore recommended that government should formulate agricultural policies that favour the growth of agricultural cooperatives which will enhance farmers' access to credit and marketing services.
Maria Ogunnaike (Olabisi Onabanjo University Ago Iwoye) Mojisola Kehinde (Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta) Funminiyi Oyawole (Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta)
Paper short abstract:
Social networks are usually based on trust and commitment and are important in the farm households decision-making process on adoption of new innovation. They also served as technical, moral and financial support center's for rural farm households.
Paper long abstract:
Climate change presents a great development challenge for the global community in general and particularly for rural farm households in developing countries. Climate-smart agriculture is one strategy aiming to help farmers adopt more sustainable farming practices. This study looked at adoption of Climate Smart Agricultural Practices (CSAPs) and the role of social networks in the process. The objectives of this study was to identify the determinants and barriers affecting farm household adoption of CSAPs in Nigeria, secondly to explore how social learning and networks contributes to knowledge and decision making during adoption of CSAPs in Nigeria. Multistage sampling technique was used to select 521 rural farm households across five states in Nigeria. Primary data were collected on socioeconomic and cultural activities among rural farm households, social networks and adopted CSAPs' used on cultivated parcels using a structured questionnaire. Data were analyzed using frequency counts, percentages, mean and Multivariate Probit model. The multivariate model of CSAPs' results showed that determinants and constraints for the adoption of agricultural innovation exist at multiple levels. This study suggests a range of factors, such as access to market information, knowledge, social and language barriers, access to extension services, member of a social group, physical or financial access to inputs, institutional or policy support, that could be restricting farmers from adopting CSAPs. The study presents evidence of the value of social networks for the adoption of CSAPs, identified the promising social networks that influenced the adoption process.