Examinando por Autor "Mkandawire, Malumbo Praise"

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Identification and description of grassroot innovation by smallholder farmers in the community of Guacimo of Limon province in Costa Rica.
(Universidad EARTH, 2018-12) Mkandawire, Malumbo Praise; Mzumara, Mika; Wünscher, Tobias
Agriculture is currently facing many problems including climate change, soil degradation and globalization. According to the World Bank annual report 2010 climate change (including increasing temperatures, changes in precipitation and other weather related disasters such as floods, droughts and increased pest pressures) poses a great threat to agriculture, water supply, energy and people. Thus, the problems faced by farmers in rural areas demand innovative ideas as solutions. Hence, grassroot innovation need to be harnessed to its potential. The objective of this work is to assess the existence and nature of grassroot innovators and innovations among smallholder farmers in the canton of Guácimo of Limón province in Costa Rica. The study was done in six areas (Rio Jimenez, Santa Rosa, Tres Calles, Parismina, La Lucha, and La Argentina). In order to collect data on innovations a survey was conducted with 51 smallholder farmers, selected using a snowball technique which means that farmers are identified through recommendation by experts and innovative farmers. In the survey we also collected information on the following parameters: land size, types of crops and livestock, access to credit, labor availability, and participation in different innovative activities carried out on farms. We identified one grassroot innovator, a farmer who used coconut sap to attract and trap weevils (Rhynchophorus ferrugineus and Rhynchophorus palmarum), a highly destructive pest in palm trees and coconut farms. Some 22 farmers (43 %) were found to be adopters of external innovations while 28 farmers (54 %) were found to be non-innovative. Furthermore, the results in general show that there is a potential for the development of innovative ideas in agriculture among smallholder farmers.