Strategies for Effective Multi-Stakeholder Linkages for Innovative Agricultural Development in Eastern Kenya *

Smallholder farmers in Eastern Kenya experience food insecurity due to climate change, scarce resources, poor infrastructure, and low rainfall that is poorly distributed. The less than optimal multi-stakeholder linkages for innovative agricultural development (MSLIAD) initiatives inhibit farmers’ adoption of technologies and innovations. This study sought to establish the factors influencing the performance of MSLIAD. The results indicated that the stakeholders experienced challenges in translating desire into action, coordination, consensus building and avoiding duplication of efforts and wastage of resources, but could use research, agricultural innovation systems (AIS), and public-private-partnership (PPP)-based linkages to improve the situation. The researchers concluded that the stakeholders supported MSLIAD initiatives and could use strong and sustainable linkages to address community challenges; that giving farmers inappropriate messages wasted resources; that identifying stakeholders and their roles enhanced sustainable MSLIAD initiatives; that PPPs reduced transaction costs for forming and sustaining relationships; that farmers’ characteristics and circumstances influenced adoption; and that AIS enhanced economic development. Consequently, extension providers should strengthen and use MSLIAD initiatives to address community challenges; should coordinate visits to farmers; should know stakeholders and their roles as well as farmers’ characteristics and circumstances; and should encourage the use of AIS and formation of PPP-based linkages.