Method matters : Exploration and reflection on the study of farmers’ demand for vegetatively propagated seed

Abstract

Supporting such new theoretical perspectives on adoption requires methods that are capable of capturing new aspects they include. Currently, a household survey is the most common research method to understand farmers' adoption and demand of (vegetative propagated) planting material (Pircher and Almekinders, 2021; Walker and Alwang, appropriately developed, knowledge is truth, meaning it is certain, accurate and coherent with reality (Park et al., 2020). The other worldview takes the assumption that reality is subjectively created. This does not mean that the existence of an external reality is denied, but rather that each of us constructs their own reality through interpretation of perceptual experiences of this external world (Jonassen, 1991). How one constructs knowledge is a function of the prior experiences, mental structures, and beliefs that one uses to interpret objects and events.When studying something as complex as seed systems, which regard the interaction of aspects in the biophysical and social sphere, diverse epistemologies are needed. As an illustration for these different world views, and how they can be applicable to study a single object, we can use a plant. There is a common statement that says: 'there is no such thing as a weed, only plants growing in inconvenient places'. What is an inconvenient place for a plant to grow, is subjective. Similarly, it can be stated that there are no resources, resources 'become' at the moment value can be created from them (De Gregori, 1987;Zimmermann, 1933). Thus, there might be a single reality out there which includes the existence of a plant, but this plant can be regarded either as an inconvenience (then we call it a weed), a resource (then we call it a crop), or anything else based on its subjective value. The construction and transformation of 'things' into something valuable, worthless or even problematic is largely determined by societies norms and values, science, and technology. Research methods as the object of studyAcknowledging such different worldviews makes us further reflect on what research methods exactly are and do. One view of method is that reality has a definite form that is independent of the methods used to study it, and that the job of methods is to discover and describe this reality as best may be (Law, 2009). The social life of methods contests that research methods are merely tools to learn about the world which has definite features that can be reported and turned into data. According to Law et al. (2011), methods have a double social life. Methods are social because they are constituted by the social world, are created with a purpose, and reflect on the concern of their advocates. They are also social because they help constitute and organize the world. In

Introducing improved vegetable varieties in a development context: lessons for the introduction of hybrid true potato seed

“…Introduction of a new variety can be challenging. Research and experience have shown that even though benefits of an improved variety are demonstrated, farmers may still refrain from adoption (Almekinders et al, 2019;Hoogendoorn et al, 2018;Kilwinger et al, 2022). Contextual factors always need to be considered providing insight into a farmer's livelihood and constraints.…”

Impact of hybrid potato

“…Introduction of a new variety can be challenging. Research and experience have shown that even though benefits of an improved variety are demonstrated, farmers may still refrain from adoption Hoogendoorn et al, 2018;Kilwinger et al, 2022). Contextual factors always need to be considered providing insight into a farmer's livelihood and constraints.…”

“…However, as emphasised in Chapter 7, to tailor varieties to the specifics of farmer demand, a solid understanding is required of the wide diversity of farmers and farming systems, in terms of resource endowments and the local agroecological, socioeconomic and cultural conditions in which farmers operate. While, according to formal, agro-industrial sector standards, quality seed is high-yielding, uniform, genetically pure, healthy, and in the proper physiological stage, this may not fully match with the needs and meanings that compose quality in the eyes of smallholder farmers (Kilwinger, 2022). This raises the question how to accommodate, with the development of hybrid potato varieties, the heterogeneity among farmers in Sub-Saharan Africa.…”

Conclusion: major findings and discussion

“…However, as emphasised in Chapter 7, to tailor varieties to the specifics of farmer demand, a solid understanding is required of the wide diversity of farmers and farming systems, in terms of resource endowments and the local agroecological, socioeconomic and cultural conditions in which farmers operate. While, according to formal, agro-industrial sector standards, quality seed is high-yielding, uniform, genetically pure, healthy, and in the proper physiological stage, this may not fully match with the needs and meanings that compose quality in the eyes of smallholder farmers(Kilwinger, 2022). This raises the question how to accommodate, with the development of hybrid potato varieties, the heterogeneity among farmers in Sub-Saharan Africa.…”