SUMMARYInnovation platforms are fast becoming part of the mantra of agricultural research for development projects and programmes. Their basic tenet is that stakeholders depend on one another to achieve agricultural development outcomes, and hence need a space where they can learn, negotiate and coordinate to overcome challenges and capture opportunities through a facilitated innovation process. Although much has been written on how to implement and facilitate innovation platforms efficiently, few studies support ex-ante appraisal of when and for what purpose innovation platforms provide an appropriate mechanism for achieving development outcomes, and what kinds of human and financial resource investments and enabling environments are required. Without these insights, innovation platforms run the risk of being promoted as a panacea for all problems in the agricultural sector. This study makes clear that not all constraints will require innovation platforms and, if there is a simpler and cheaper ‡ Corresponding author.

Purpose: This paper explores the information sharing between farmers clustered around a formal plant health information source, using six case studies of plant clinics in China and Zambia. Design/methodology/approach: A survey was carried out with 327 farmers; six plant doctors were interviewed and plant clinic records reviewed. Data were analysed using social network analysis and descriptive statistics. Findings: Clinic attendees shared plant health information with an average of 4.6 other farmers in China and 3.8 farmers in Zambia. However, the effective secondary reach of plant clinics, i.e. clinic attendees sharing information with non-attendees, was considerably lower, especially in China, where most sharing took place among clinic attendees. The Zambian plant clinics, managed by public extension services, show a more open pattern where information is also shared with non-attendees. Practical implications: Plant doctors could play a more proactive role in bridging formal and informal networks to enhance the diffusion of plant health information within farming communities. Strategies to optimize the secondary reach of plant clinics should be informed by the agro-ecological and socio-economic context, as well as the type of organization operating the service. Theoretical implications: The type of production system (degree of market orientation) and clinic's institutional setup (private vs. public sector) determine the characteristics of the social network around it. The closed, crop-specific networks in China result in high uptake of advice but limited secondary reach. The open, more crop-diverse networks in Zambia have higher secondary reach but lower uptake. Originality/value: This is the first study examining how information travels within social networks linked to plant clinics, and patterns of information sharing and use.

Part I The evolution of plant clinics in Uganda 1. An introduction to the working paper Plantwise: an attempt to strengthen plant health systems worldwide Agriculture in Uganda Agricultural advisory services in Uganda: a major challenge Methodological process Structure of the working paper 2. Looking at plant clinics: making sense of practice About institutions and plant health systems Gender 3. Plant clinics in Uganda History at a glance Where are we now? Plant clinic operations Plant doctors Plant clinic users The Plantwise Online Management System Plant doctor conferences It's an emergency! Plant health rallies and other approaches for rapid delivery of plant health messages 4. Plant clinic adaptations An overview of some of the plant clinic adaptations How local adaptation improves service delivery 5. Gender responsiveness in plant clinic delivery Attending the plant clinic. Or not? Encouraging women's involvement Is the advice suitable? What happens to the advice? Gender-responsive delivery from implementing organizations Reflections and implications for plant clinic service provision 6. Institutionalization Policy support Financing Building a plant clinic workforce Stakeholder engagement and networking Local ownership and accountability Basic procedures Project identity What is required to create a coherent plant health system? Listening to the silent patient 7. Conclusions Local adaptation The need for a systems approach A new focus: building adaptive capacity Gender Institutionalizing plant clinics: creating an enabling environment Final remarks Part II Case studies A. Nakifuma clinic Nakifuma plant clinic at a glance Farming in Nakifuma Back to the beginning: 2005 Clinic operations B. Bwera plant clinic Bwera plant clinic at a glance Farming in Bwera How it started and was sustained How it works C. Kayunga mobile clinic Kayunga district mobile plant clinic at a glance Farming systems How were services provided prior to plant clinics? How did it start? Plant clinic operations A plant clinic day: from mobilization to the end Adaptations: what is special? Sustaining the plant clinics D. Kabarwa plant clinic Kabarwa plant clinic at a glance Farming system The urge to provide quality services This is how it works E. Mairirwe plant clinic Mairirwe plant clinic at a glance Farming in Bugambe sub-county From local initiative to routine operations How does it work? Annex 1. List of movies Annex 2. Contributors Contributors Editing team Annex 3. The organizations Acronyms AASP Agricultural advisory service provider AFAAS African Forum for Agricultural Advisory Services ATAAS Agricultural Technology and Agribusiness Advisory Services BIC Bwera Information Centre CAADP Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme CBF Community-based facilitator CBO Community-based organization CIF Community information facilitator CPF Community process facilitator CSO Civil society organization DSIP Development Strategy and Investment Plan Link extension staff to technical expertise: Plant clinics are linked to networks of...

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