agrl_innovations_in_ssa.pdf?utm_content=buffercb41d&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter

Figure 4: Coordinating bodies at the start and end of the innovation process
Public sector roles
Active government involvement and a commitment to agricultural growth proved central to all
the case studies whether they were planned or opportunity driven, with public sector actors
playing important roles, even when they did not take the lead or were not involved in the
early stages. Public-sector support proved essential for: policy and regulation; infrastructure
improvement research; extension and capacity development; and in some cases intervening to
improve marketing and provide incentives for the private sector (Table 6 and Figure 5).
The provision of key public goods, particularly government-financed agricultural research was
directly responsible for triggering growth in most of the case studies reviewed. In all cases the
availability of public roads and transport facilities contributed indirectly to their success or
failure.
In the planned initiatives, the public sector played a key role from the beginning, while in the
opportunity-driven innovations, the public sector tended to play a role after the process had
been initiated. Agricultural research on vegetatively propagated and staple food crops was
often funded by the public sector. Other publicly funded research crops included cassava,
bananas, rice and legumes. For instance, cassava, which is prized for its ability to thrive in harsh
conditions, produces in poor soils even in times of drought. The crop provides a crucial source
of income for hundreds of thousands of smallholder famers. As such the importance of having
disease-resistant varieties is vital and – being one of the world’s most important food crops
– it is essential that cassava is protected from pests and diseases in particular whitefly, green
88 Agricultural Innovation in Sub-Saharan Africa