Innovation Trajectories in Honduras’ Coffee Value Chain. Public and Private Influence on the Use of New Knowledge and Technology among Coffee Growers

Frank Hartwich et al. / Int. J. Food System Dynamics 3 (2010) 237-251

coffee growers and blue for agents that provide innovations). The names of the producers have been kept
anonymous.

Figure 1 depicts the network of information exchange relationships with regard to innovations in coffee
production among producers and agents in El Pacon. IHCAFE and CATIE seem to play a major role in the
exchange of information with the producers. Another relevant development agent is FUNDER. With the
exception of CIGRAH, local buyers and exporters appear to have no relevant role in exchange of
information on coffee technology. This is surprising, as many producers maintain credit relationships with
the local buyers. Farmers’ organizations did not exchange much information with producers. As for the
input providers, they were not significant actors in the exchange of information with the coffee growers,
they are found in the periphery of the network. Most strikingly producers in the community seem to
source information rather from other producers then from agents. The role of EP02 and to a lesser degree
EP17, EP25 and EP11 is evident in the exchange of information. It is know that those individuals are
leaders in the community and carry out leading functions in the local cooperative, COMIPIL. They received
special training through development agencies and assumed catalyzing functions in transferring
information to the community members.

Figure 1.

Producer-agent information exchange network for coffee innovations in El Pacon community

Figure 2 depicts the network of information exchange relationships with regard to innovations in coffee
production among producers and agents in Las Crucitas. It confirms the predominant role that IHCAFE and
SEAGRO play as agents providing information to growers. A less important role can be attributed to SIDA,
BANADESA and AHPROCAFE. Buyers seem to be completely absent from information exchange on
innovation in coffee production. Again, there are a number of well connected producers, such as ST1, ST7,
ST14 and ST18.

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