Linkage Mechanisms among key Actors in Rice Innovation System in Southeast Nigeria

A nation’s ability to solve problems and sustain economic growth depends partly on its capabilities in science, technology, and innovation. In assessment of linkage mechanisms among key actors in rice innovation system in southeast Nigeria, actors were classified into six major groups according to their main activity in the system namely research agency, policy personnel, technology transfer agencies, farmers, marketers and consumers. These constituted the population of the study. A total sample size of 539 respondents, made up of 40 researchers, 76 policy personnel, 96 technology transfer agencies, 196 farmers, 51 marketers and 80 consumers were used. Percentages and means were used in data analysis. The study revealed that among the actors in rice innovation system, NCRI and IITA had link with technology transfer agencies, IITA had link with the Ministry of Agriculture. the Ministry of Agriculture had link with farmers ( X =2.51) and NAFDAC had link with researchers ( X =2.83). Among technology transfer agencies, ADP had link with researchers ( X =3.00), policy personnel ( X =2.88), farmers ( X =3.00) and Federal Ministry of Commerce had link with researchers ( X =2.73). Marketers had link with policy personnel ( X =2.72) and farmers ( X =2.68), while consumers had link with farmers ( X =2.72). The major linkage mechanisms that existed among the actors was dissemination of knowledge and information ( X = 3.00). The study concludes that for increase in rice production in southeast Nigeria, there is need for strong linkages among the actors in the rice innovation system