Knowledge management for agricultural innovation within the Bolivian Agricultural Technology System: insights from the analysis of rural knowledge networks

Abstract

This paper presents results of an analysis of adoption of innovations among farmers affiliated to four agricultural innovation projects in Bolivia that promote different modalities of knowledge management. In two of the cases, regional foundations of the Bolivian Agricultural Technology System (SIBTA) fostered knowledge management and exchange involving multiple-agents and results show that these are relatively more successful than traditional technology transfer projects. Results of the analysis at the individual farmers? level demonstrate that the adoption of innovations is determined by the knowledge management modalities of the project to which they were affiliated to as well as by the degree of embeddedness of the farmer in local innovation and learning networks. This confirms current wisdom that farmers need intensive relations, not only to one type of extension or development agency but to many different agents, in order to be able to draw from a sufficient critical mass of knowledge, gain confidence on the relevance of the knowledge, and learn jointly to apply and improve an innovation. Those who finance and promote agricultural innovation should consider that the creation and diffusion of innovation is a complex process which can be enhanced by fostering interactive learning among farmers and other agents that dispose of and develop farm relevant knowledge.