Files
Abstract
In this paper we present results from a study on the use of improved coffee production technology schemes
among smallholder coffee producers in three prominent coffee producing regions in Honduras. We analyze the
impact of various schemes (trajectories) in which different agents influence the producers’ decision to use new
technologies. In particular, we distinguish the influence of a) private coffee buying organizations and b) government
and public development agencies on the innovation behavior of coffee growers. Drawing from network
data that depict the internal and outbound connectedness of producers in three village communities in main
coffee producing zones in Honduras, we applied tools of social network analysis to find out how interactions
with certain agents, separately and cumulatively, has influenced their use of improved methods in coffee production
and marketing. The results suggest that there are significant differences in the way that various providers
of knowledge and technology, especially private buyers and development agencies, influence the farmers’
behavior towards innovation. The influence of buyers, according to our data, is focused on certification and
quality aspects, whereas development agents focus on improved agronomic practices. We also find that farmers
who communicate with the extension branch of input providers tend to be more innovative. These results suggest
that development programs should take more seriously into account the role of private actors in innovation
among agricultural producers and, hence, design development programs in such a way to allow for collaboration
with these agents.