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Delivering nutrient management impact through farmer-centric research: a systematic review of innovation systems in African smallholder systems
Journal article   Open access   Peer reviewed

Delivering nutrient management impact through farmer-centric research: a systematic review of innovation systems in African smallholder systems

Ivan Adolwa, Shamie Zingore, James K Mutegi, Matthew McNee, Bolaji A. Akorede, Denver Masidza, T. Scott Murrell, Samuel Mathu Ndungu, Eileen Nchanji, Simon Cook, …
Agricultural Systems, Vol.229, 104416
2025
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agsy.2025.104416
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Published3.31 MBDownloadView
CC BY V4.0,  Open Access

Abstract

Innovation processes Participatory research Agricultural knowledge and innovation systems On-farm experimentation Nutrient management Value creation framework African smallholder farming
CONTEXT The performance of the agricultural sector in Africa still lags behind other regions. The current average maize productivity of 2 t ha-1 is below the global average of about 6 t ha-1. This low productivity threatens the livelihoods of a majority of the population. Despite decades of research and development investments, current agricultural innovation systems remain ineffective in supporting sustainable agricultural transformation. OBJECTIVE This study traces the evolution of innovation systems in Africa as a backdrop to the adaptation of on-farm experimentation (OFE), which is a novel framework for accelerating research and development (R&D) impact. METHODS A systematic review approach is augmented with social network analysis methods and primary and secondary data. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS We find that although current innovation systems have contributed to enhancing co-learning processes and have enabled the partial adoption of improved agronomic practices, resulting in increased nutrient uptake efficiency and crop productivity, several shortcomings have limited their impact. Despite their core focus on participatory and systemic R&D processes, our review points to their inability to effectively engage farmers. Hence, failing to generate scalable learning, and demonstrate sufficient value to farmers and other stakeholders. The OFE initiatives demonstrate how farmer-relevant insights integrated with field-based and digital evidence help spur a farmer-driven innovation development and decision support framework. SIGNIFICANCE OFE is potentially a powerful enabler of current innovation systems performance as it provides the platform for a transformative farmer-led innovation process. (Display Omitted)

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UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

This output has contributed to the advancement of the following goals:

#2 Zero Hunger

Source: InCites

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Collaboration types
Domestic collaboration
International collaboration
Citation topics
6 Social Sciences
6.263 Agricultural Policy
6.263.898 Sustainable Agriculture
Web Of Science research areas
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
ESI research areas
Agricultural Sciences
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