posted on 2024-09-05, 22:50authored byKennedy O Ogoro
This study sets out to investigate the role of small holder farmers
amidst the intervention of other actors in biotechnology innovation in
the maize sub-sector, in Kenya. This exploratory research is a result of
the challenges in understanding participation and the concept of
public-private partnership in biotechnology innovation and its social
construction. These challenges emerge as a result of a myriad of actors
involved in biotechnology innovation. The study goes a step further to
investigate the role of both human (social) and non-human (material)
actors in the construction of biotechnology innovation in the maize
sub-sector in Kenya. Here, focus is on the manoeuvres- negotiations
and distantiations as played out by various actors in the creation of
partnerships and the shaping of social interaction and participation for
the Gene Revolution in Kenya. This way the study dissects the
understanding that biotechnology innovation is about more than just
development and use of agricultural technology.
The study will focus on two different programmes in Kenya. Not for
comparison purposes but is intended to use biotechnology innovation
combined with applying notions of actor participation on publicprivate
partnership infrastructure to address the food needs of
Kenyans. These programmes are; the Special Biotechnology
Programme (1993) and the Insect Resistant Maize for Africa Project
(1999). In view of this, the main objective is to contribute to
understanding how actors conceptualize and actualize their roles,
those of others, and the partnerships and interactions in biotechnology
innovation programmes in Kenya that focus on small holder farmers.
In so doing, the question of how socio-technical interactions between
small holder farmers and other actors are constructed in
biotechnology innovation process in Kenya would have been
addressed.
take place, focus is on actor-oriented approach which will expand on
contemporary social science debate which intends to rescue actors,
heterogeneity, and social change (dynamics from a simplified
structuralist analysis). Actor-network theory, issues of power and
control, aims (public relations (PR), profits, or public interest), and the
debate on participation shall be used.
This study will be to a large extent an exploratory study. Fieldwork
will proceed by utilizing qualitative research methods of data
collection for over a period of 21 months. The methods will generate
data that clearly position small holder farmers in their rightful place in
biotechnology innovation in Kenya amidst other actors involved in
the construction of biotechnology.
History
Publisher
Institute for Development Studies, University of Nairobi
Citation
Ogoro, Kennedy O.(2007), Biotechnology innovation in Kenya: where are the smallholder farmers?, Working paper no. 547, Nairobi: Institute for Development Studies, University of Nairobi
Series
Working papers 547
IDS Item Types
Series paper (non-IDS)
Copyright holder
Institute for Development Studies, University of Nairobi