The role of actors in promoting potato crop intensification innovations among smallholder farmers in southwestern Uganda

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dc.contributor.authorAinebyona, Roland Rwambuka
dc.contributor.authorSanya, Losira Nasirumbi
dc.contributor.authorAgea, Jacob Godfrey
dc.contributor.authorKarubanga, Gabriel
dc.contributor.authorMugisha, Johnny
dc.date.accessioned2026-01-08T14:46:11Z
dc.date.available2026-01-08T14:46:11Z
dc.date.issued2026-01-02
dc.descriptionThis paper highlights how collaboration and innovation can improve smallholder agriculture in Uganda. It promotes productivity, market orientation, and sustainable intensification of potato farming to enhance farmers’ livelihoods. The findings support Uganda’s NDP IV by strengthening agricultural transformation, extension systems, and multi-actor partnerships. The study informs policy and practice on food security, rural incomes, and the adoption of innovation. It contributes to SDG 1 (No Poverty), SDG 2 (Zero Hunger), SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure), and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).
dc.description.abstractThe limited uptake of innovative agricultural practices, despite their high potential to enhance yield and productivity, has directed attention towards more inclusive innovation processes. This study investigates actors’ roles, interactions, and linkages that facilitate uptake of potato crop intensification innovation practices within the Community Action Research Project Plus (CARP+) Project, a RUFORUM project that was launched by Makerere University in Southwestern Uganda. Data were analyzed using Social Network Analysis (SNA), using UCINET software. Results revealed that potato crop intensification innovation process evolved in five key stages, each involving players from various AIS domains interacting with each other. Thus, a network of multi-domain actors demonstrates the importance of versatile engagement in promoting the uptake of innovative agricultural practices. The innovation network had lower scores of network density and Arch reciprocity (about 21 and 47%). Thus, dominance of unidirectional ties, while other players remained in the periphery indicates potential limited integration and feedback, unidirectional flow of information and other resources within network. Similarly, some players remaining in the periphery of the network implies weak network which cripples innovation uptake. The study recommends for strengthening multi-stakeholder partnerships that foster collaboration among diverse actors who perform diverse roles for effective performance of a network.
dc.description.sponsorshipThe Mastercard Foundation; The Regional Universities Forum for Capacity Building in Agriculture (RUFORUM)
dc.identifier.citationAinebyona, R. R., Sanya, L. N., Agea, J. G., Karubanga, G., & Mugisha, J. (2026). The role of actors in promoting potato crop intensification innovations among smallholder farmers in southwestern Uganda: https://doi. org/10.15739/IJAPR. 26.001. International Journal of Agricultural Policy and Research, 14(1), 1-13.
dc.identifier.issn2350-1561
dc.identifier.urihttps://dir.muni.ac.ug/handle/20.500.12260/859
dc.language.isoen
dc.publisherJournal Issues
dc.subjectAgricultural practices
dc.subjectCARP+
dc.subjectCollaboration
dc.subjectCrop intensification
dc.subjectInnovation process
dc.subjectLimited uptake
dc.subjectNetwork analysis
dc.subjectNetwork density
dc.subjectReciprocity
dc.subjectRUFORUM
dc.titleThe role of actors in promoting potato crop intensification innovations among smallholder farmers in southwestern Uganda
dc.typeArticle

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