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This study examines factors affecting the interactions between different key actors in the innovation system of improved
rice varieties in the Eastern Zone of Tanzania. A parallel mixed design was used to collect the data from a sample of 340
randomly selected rice farming households and 34 purposively selected key informants from actor groups involved in rice
innovations. Information was collected using structured and semi-structured interviews, focus group discussions, and
documentary review. Factors affecting interactions between farmers and other key actors were analyzed using a binary
logistic model and chi-square test, meanwhile, content analysis was used to analyze the qualitative data. The findings
show that household income, farming systems, leadership, innovation platforms, coordination bodies, trust, human and
financial resources, ICT facilities, and transportation means were the factors that affected interactions between
different actors in the system. Equally, limited financial resources were reported to have affected every actor group’s
ability to interact in the system, thus significantly constraining the implementation of linkage activities designed to
facilitate actors’ interactions along the improved rice varieties value chain. This study speaks to policymakers on
formulating strategies for financial resource mobilization that will strengthen availability and accessibility of finance
by actors and enable the implementation of linkage activities (e.g., innovation platform establishment, enhancement of
ICT facilities, and improvement of transport means, among others) which, in turn, will strengthen actors’ interactions
in the system and improve rice production. |
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