THE SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY BACKYARD AS A LOCAL LEVEL INNOVATION INTERMEDIARY IN RURAL CHINA

Agricultural innovation can be described as a coevolutionary process of technological innovation,symbolic change,and social or institutional innovation,which relies on the interactions and collaboration between multiple stakeholders.This view emphasizes the significance of innovation intermediaries in supporting the coevolution process of innovation.Many studies have provided evidence on how innovation intermediaries play roles in supporting the coevolution innovation process at a broader innovation system level.However,little emphasis has been given to the role of innovation intermediaries in supporting the coevolution process of innovation at the community level in rural China.To address this research gap,this paper offers a case study of a novel type of innovation support intervention designed to promote technical change at the community level,the Science and Technology Backyard(STB).The paper focuses on the efforts of a specific STB in Wangzhuang village to promote innovation in tillage methods in wheat production.The aims was to examine the role of this newly emerging innovation support intervention in supporting the coevolution process of innovation at the community level,and compare the outcome of the coevolution process in the village with an STB to that in villages without an STB.Innovation journey analysis is applied to understand the evolved intermediation roles in the innovation process,and multivariate regression analysis is employed to assess the outcome of the coevolution process in villages with and without an STB.The findings suggest that the roles of STBs have evolved from knowledge brokers to systemic innovation intermediaries that facilitate the coevolution process of innovation inside an STB village.It has led to a higher adoption rate of improved technology,a better enabling environment for learning,and more effective institutional support in STB villages than in non-STB villages.However,the effect of support provided by a single STB on the coevolution process outside the community was limited.This finding points to a need for collaboration mechanisms and for connecting single STBs to support the coevolution process of innovation at a larger scale.

Coordinating environmental protection and agricultural development: a village-based case study for promoting green transformation

Balancing ecological preservation with sustainable agricultural practices is a global issue. Erhai Lake has felt this challenge keenly. To address it, in 2022, a Science and Technology Backyards(STBs) project was launched in Gusheng Village. The goal of this is to care for the environment while ensuring that farms and farmers can thrive sustainably. The uniqueness of the Erhai STB arises from its interdisciplinary integration, encompassing fields such as ecology, agronomy and social science, resulting in specifically-designed solutions for the Erhai context. While this model aligns with broader STB paradigms, its distinctive edge lies in technological innovation and robust support mechanisms for local agricultural stakeholders. This paper describes the methodology and outcomes of the STB initiative, highlighting its pivotal role in spearheading sustainable transition in Erhai. Preliminary findings underscore the potential of the STB model as an efficacious tool for harmonizing environmental conservation and agricultural practices, that are both financially and environmentally sustainable, rendering it a potential model for comparable regions in China and other counties.

Science and Technology Backyard model:implications for sustainable agriculture in Africa

Sustainable food production to feed the growing population in Africa remains a major challenge.Africa has 64%of the global arable land but produces less than 10%of its food locally due to its inherently low soil nutrient concentrations.Poor soil fertility and a lack of fertilizer use are the major constraints to increasing crop yields in Africa.On average only about 8.8 kg NPK fertilizer is applied per hectare by African smallholder farmers.There is therefore considerable potential for increasing food production through sustainable intensification of the cropping systems.The low crop yields in Africa are also partly due to limited farmer access to modern agronomic techniques,including improved crop varieties,a lack of financial resources,and the absence of mechanisms for dissemination of information to smallholders.This study analyzed the Science and Technology Backyards(STBs)model and investigated its use for the transformation of agriculture in Africa.Some key lessons for sustainable crop intensification in Africa can be found from analysis of the STB model which is well established in China.These include(1)scientist-farmer engagement to develop adaptive and innovative technology for sustainable crop production,(2)dissemination of technology by empowering smallholders,especially leading farmers,and(3)the development of an open platform for multiple resource involvement rather than relying on a single mechanism.This review evaluates the benefits of the STB model used in China for adoption to increase agricultural productivity in Africa,with a perspective on sustainable crop intensification on the continent.

IMPROVING FERTILIZATION METHODS AND CROPPING SYSTEMS FOR SUSTAINABLE PRODUCTION OF PEARL MILLET (PENNISETUM GLAUCUM) IN WEST AFRICA: A REVIEW

West African countries are among the larger global millet producers but have low yields mainly due to the low quality of their marginal soils.The objectives of this work were to analyze the benefits and constraints of pearl millet production,to summarize the impact of different cropping systems and fertilization modes while proposing a holistic approach for sustainable production.The major constraints on millet yields are low rates or absence of fertilizers,unsuitable cropping systems,and the proliferation of pests and diseases.Intercropping with cowpea is a widely used cropping system in addition to crop rotation,monocropping and agroforestry systems.Microdosing is the best fertilization mode for West African smallholders.It is concluded that integrated systems(breeding new cultivars,intercropping and microdosing)in tied ridges or infiltration pit practices,sustained by the implementation of innovative approaches such as the‘Science and Technology Backyards’from China are a promising approach for increasing pearl millet production.In addition,policies such as land protection of the farmers and subsidies of inputs from the government and the effective involvement of farmers and extension officers are necessary in sustaining millet production in West Africa.