Using network theory to promote adoption of new agricultural technologies in Sierra Leone

Policy brief 28 Jun 2021 Firms and Firm capabilities

Authors

The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF) in Sierra Leone has identified livestock production as the second most important activity in their 5-year strategic plan and recognizes the central importance of maize as a feed crop for livestock.
This policy brief suggests that to reap the desired benefits from any policy intervention, a value chain approach to development should be adopted. Such a value chain must involve the development of human capital at the smallholder farmer level, support in the provision of agricultural technology and coordination between the main market actors, namely: farmers, millers and animal feed or poultry producers.
A feasibility study was carried out jointly by IGC, Y-RISE and WARC, aimed to inform a larger, scaled-up randomised control trial (RCT) to rigorously estimate the impact of this proposed bundled intervention across hundreds of rural villages throughout Sierra Leone.
Research and interviews with stakeholders have identified three major barriers to the development of a sustainable, domestic animal feed industry within Sierra Leone: information gaps, lack of access to transformative technology, and lack of coordination to effectively gather market information and communicate with potential purchasers in the market.
This brief also provides context on the potential for adoption of maize in Sierra Leone when given technology to transform maize, access to agro-industry, and access to higher-value market.