Frank Hartwich et al. / Int. J. Food System Dynamics 3 (2010) 237-251
groconιercιal Gaitan
IJΓ∙IDUC.AFE
IHCAFE Technical Assistence
Figure 4.
Information exchange network among agents
5 Conclusion
This study investigated how public and private agents in coffee development influence the innovative
behavior of coffee growers in Honduras. Although most producers have access to funding, in the majority
of cases the conditions of credits are unfavorable, particularly if they are received as informal loans from
local buyers. However, a more important issue seems to be the lack of relevant information that would
enable farmers to improve their production patterns to the optimal intensification through more chemical
inputs and labor.
General schemes and innovation trajectories which determine how growers receive innovation-relevant
information were defined. In the case of three communities, levels of innovativeness in coffee production
among growers as well as the type of relationships those growers maintain with other members of the
community and with public and private agents in coffee development were also determined. The picture
drawn from this is of a mixed nature: while the private sector seems to be dominating most of the
innovation trajectories, producers consider development agents, particularly IHCAFE, as dominant when it
comes to relevant information to improve their coffee production. Influential development cooperation
agents included SIDA, CATIE, and ASONOG all of which dispose of substantial project funding. Farmers
associations, e.g. AHPROCAFE, and cooperatives also played an important role in the diffusion of
innovation-relevant information to farmers.
The influence of the private sector was particularly felt through the presence of an input provider who did
involve in substantial advisory work in one community. Relationships to traditional buyers, the so-called
“beneficios”, were rarely considered as an important source of information among the producers.
However, some farmers maintained some loose relationships with international buyers and exporters in
which case relevant information on improving coffee production was transferred. Eventually, the role of
the private sector would have been more prominent if the study had included a community in which most
producers certify.
The influence of IHCAFE has to be put in the context of its actual capacity of delivering advisory services.
In fact, on its own IHCAFE would not be able to reach many producers. However, through its role as
information broker and organizer of platforms and training events in which other agents provide
information, its importance is increased. The function, of linking farmers with other agents, is crucial and
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