Definition of Homogenous Groundnut Production Domains: A Tool to Assess Transferability and Spillover Effects from ICRISAT Groundnut Technologies

Abstract

"Sustained, well-targeted, and effectively used investments in agricultural R&D improved productivity worldwide and thereby contributed to food security. In this context, research spillover effects refer to situations in which a technology that is developed for a specific target region or product is also applicable to other locations or products that are not targeted during the research process. The focus of this paper is the definition of homogenous zones (domains) as the basis to distinguish target from non target regions of dissemination and therefore enable delineating spillover effects from technology transfers that occur within the initial target region. Efforts to quantify these effects have shown that the contribution of spillover effects to the overall impact can be substantial at times. To maximize their impact, the thorough understanding, separation and quantification of transfers and spillover effects emerging from past research is one important tool in the priority setting process of international research institutions like the CGIAR centers. Based on methodologies developed by Davis et al 1987 and others, this paper enhances the measurement of transferability along agroclimatic homogenous domains for groundnut research. After illustrating the basis for the transferability measurement, the application of the concept is outlined along the example of ICRISAT groundnut variety ICGV 87123. Results show that the transferability between African and Asian locations is higher than the former domains depicted based on agroclimatic similarities across the locations. Nevertheless, actual transfers are lower possibly due to differences in market structure, governance factors and other socioeconomic factors. To overcome these bottlenecks through new innovations along the research continuum as well as along the commodity value chain is crucial in order to achieve higher impact from the funds invested and therefore increase the poverty reduction impact from ICRISAT research."