Agricultural mindsets across social networks in four African countries

This PowerPoint presents research examining agricultural mindsets and social networks in Kenya, Uganda, Lesotho, and Mali. It identifies three agricultural mindsets exist which characterize farmer goals, values, and identities. These are: conventional agriculture (market-oriented production involving mechanical implements, agrochemical use and mono-cropping), risk-averse agriculture (livelihood diversification, distribution of risk, avoidance of market dependence), and conservation agriculture (minimal tillage, maintaining a soil cover and crop rotations). Mindsets of farmers and non-farm agents are explored through survey data. Relationships between actors, and mindsets of key actors are displayed in maps of social networks in Kenya and Uganda. The presentation concludes by emphasizing that agro-ecological, socio-cultural, and historical context matters, and calls for the development of an innovation system that is catalyzed by innovation brokers.