Conceptual challenges for socially inclusive innovation in India s drylands

1. 4-7 May2009 R. S. Raina, CPR, New Delhi - IDRC Inclusive Innovation project Conceptual challenges for socially inclusive innovation in India�s drylands Innovation Asia-Pacific Symposium Kathmandu, Nepal Thanks � organizers, Veena, the China-India team Prof Wu and me � asked to see this call for papers � Decided � Prof. Yong yi Shou and me � Conceptual challenges discussed here are from our joint concern as reflected in our project proposal to IDRC I present the case from India � and its options for inclusive innovation.Thanks � organizers, Veena, the China-India team Prof Wu and me � asked to see this call for papers � Decided � Prof. Yong yi Shou and me � Conceptual challenges discussed here are from our joint concern as reflected in our project proposal to IDRC I present the case from India � and its options for inclusive innovation.

2. 4-7 May2009 R. S. Raina, CPR, New Delhi - IDRC Inclusive Innovation project Background Governments of China and India � inclusive and harmonious growth IPS programme of IDRC (Canada) - a research project on �Innovation Systems for Inclusive Development: Lessons from Rural China and India�

3. 4-7 May2009 R. S. Raina, CPR, New Delhi - IDRC Inclusive Innovation project We know � but ��. It is necessary to take a comprehensive view of the functioning of the agricultural research system and make systemic changes in the course of the Eleventh Plan. Thus far, research has tended to focus mostly on increasing the yield potential by more intensive use of water and biochemical inputs. Far too little attention has been given to the long-term environmental impact or on methods and practices for the efficient use of these inputs for sustainable agriculture. These features are widely known but efforts to correct them have not been adequate; at any rate they have not made much of a difference (Government of India, 2008, Vol. 3, pg. 13).

4. 4-7 May2009 R. S. Raina, CPR, New Delhi - IDRC Inclusive Innovation project Why? What does inclusive growth entail? Poverty reduction All poor as measured by poverty indicators Subsidies& incentives to produce & access markets Doles, social security nets -distributive Cash transfers, subsidies, access. Inclusive growth Set of deprived populations/regions Capacity to participate effectively in production Better distribution of incomes generated in the economy Welfare gains & better consumption There are significant differences between poverty reduction as a national development goal and inclusive growth as the national development goal. Mainly, inclusive growth ensures that the poor or populations excluded thus far from mainstream economic growth are given the opportunity and capacities to participate in production, distribution and consumption processes in the economy. Most importantly, it is an acknowledgement from the powerful nation state (in this case the Chinese and Indian Governments) that in the economic growth strategies pursued thus far, some populations and regions were left behind or did not gain. A national demand for inclusive growth is a commitment of the state to change current ways of working. To quote from Milanovic (2003) One could argue that the reduction of physical misery associated with low income and consumption levels�permit[s] an increase rather than a diminution of political tensions, [because] the political misery of the poor, the tension created by the observation of the much greater [income] growth of other communities... may have only increased. (Simon Kuznets, 1965, p. 174) There are significant differences between poverty reduction as a national development goal and inclusive growth as the national development goal. Mainly, inclusive growth ensures that the poor or populations excluded thus far from mainstream economic growth are given the opportunity and capacities to participate in production, distribution and consumption processes in the economy. Most importantly, it is an acknowledgement from the powerful nation state (in this case the Chinese and Indian Governments) that in the economic growth strategies pursued thus far, some populations and regions were left behind or did not gain. A national demand for inclusive growth is a commitment of the state to change current ways of working. To quote from Milanovic (2003) One could argue that the reduction of physical misery associated with low income and consumption levels�permit[s] an increase rather than a diminution of political tensions, [because] the political misery of the poor, the tension created by the observation of the much greater [income] growth of other communities... may have only increased. (Simon Kuznets, 1965, p. 174)

5. 4-7 May2009 R. S. Raina, CPR, New Delhi - IDRC Inclusive Innovation project Innovation for inclusive growth People�s capacities � to engage with, participate and change Knowledge and support to do so Innovation � products and processes of generating, accessing and utilizing knowledge involved in Production Distribution Consumption

6. Innovation system actors -- In policy, research, demand, intermediate, enterprise domains What are the forms of exclusion? How can they be made inclusive? Social and political constraints? Capacities for unlearning and learning � for all actors � in all domains 4-7 May2009 R. S. Raina, CPR, New Delhi - IDRC Inclusive Innovation project Therefore reform of the ICAR and SAUs to perform their roles in inclusive ways becomes all the more importantTherefore reform of the ICAR and SAUs to perform their roles in inclusive ways becomes all the more important

7. 4-7 May2009 R. S. Raina, CPR, New Delhi - IDRC Inclusive Innovation project Challenges include Nature of exclusion in structures and policies Learning - from the positive Structural constraints to learning Shifting or modifying conventional policies and practices

8. 4-7 May2009 R. S. Raina, CPR, New Delhi - IDRC Inclusive Innovation project India�s drylands-Spatial exclusion India�s dryland agriculture states Green revolution � bypassed them Some are highly industrial Rural poverty high - tribal, SC population %Agrl SDP 2000-07 The absence of assured irrigation aside, the nine states that account for 80% of India�s drylands are marked by poor public investment and rural infrastructure, limited formal (institutional) credit, and limited access to relevant technologies, inputs and markets, and chronic poverty.The absence of assured irrigation aside, the nine states that account for 80% of India�s drylands are marked by poor public investment and rural infrastructure, limited formal (institutional) credit, and limited access to relevant technologies, inputs and markets, and chronic poverty.

9. 4-7 May2009 R. S. Raina, CPR, New Delhi - IDRC Inclusive Innovation project India�s drylands � Organizational exclusion Cultivator households declining Crop-livestock systems increasing NTFP and allied livelihoods important Knowledge,inputs, needs of production systems not included %CultivatorHouseholds (Indian Council of Agricultural Research, State Agricultural Universities, private industry 3 and co-operatives), credit (Regional Rural Banks, Primary Agricultural Credit Societies), infrastructure development (Central and State Departments of roads, electricity/energy, water and watershed development authorities) and market organizations (Agricultural Produce Marketing Committee, Food Corporation of India) are focused on specific narrow organizational mandates, on the irrigated ricewheat tracts in three or four states of the Indian union(Indian Council of Agricultural Research, State Agricultural Universities, private industry 3 and co-operatives), credit (Regional Rural Banks, Primary Agricultural Credit Societies), infrastructure development (Central and State Departments of roads, electricity/energy, water and watershed development authorities) and market organizations (Agricultural Produce Marketing Committee, Food Corporation of India) are focused on specific narrow organizational mandates, on the irrigated ricewheat tracts in three or four states of the Indian union

10. 4-7 May2009 R. S. Raina, CPR, New Delhi - IDRC Inclusive Innovation project India�s drylands � institutional exclusion Planned choices � focus on regions with advantage � investment and knowledge Technologies � based on the norms of irrigated agriculture Credit � based on assumptions of repayment capacities & production risk Access � community, caste and gender � power relationships Institutional reform in agricultural research in particular has received much attention in India- to enhance the capacity of agricultural science to engage with, understand and enable changes in S&T so that knowledge that is useful for the communities are generated and delivered. The Government of India seems to be highly sceptical about the scope for institutional reform of agricultural research: It is necessary to take a comprehensive view of the functioning of the agricultural research system and make systemic changes in the course of the Eleventh Plan. Thus far, research has tended to focus mostly on increasing the yield potential by more intensive use of water and biochemical inputs. Far too little attention has been given to the longterm environmental impact or on methods and practices for the efficient use of these inputs for sustainable agriculture. These features are widely known but efforts to correct them have not been adequate; at any rate they have not made much of a difference (Government of India, 2008, Vol. 3, pg. 13). Many such findings and recommendations do exist. But institutional reform of existing actors (organizations) necessary for inclusive innovation � where people excluded thus far can participate in production systems and gain from the income streams generated, where R&D organizations and agricultural credit agencies change their current norms or ways or working, is difficult. There are however, lessons available from effective inclusive innovation systems in the drylands. Institutional reform in agricultural research in particular has received much attention in India- to enhance the capacity of agricultural science to engage with, understand and enable changes in S&T so that knowledge that is useful for the communities are generated and delivered. The Government of India seems to be highly sceptical about the scope for institutional reform of agricultural research: It is necessary to take a comprehensive view of the functioning of the agricultural research system and make systemic changes in the course of the Eleventh Plan. Thus far, research has tended to focus mostly on increasing the yield potential by more intensive use of water and biochemical inputs. Far too little attention has been given to the longterm environmental impact or on methods and practices for the efficient use of these inputs for sustainable agriculture. These features are widely known but efforts to correct them have not been adequate; at any rate they have not made much of a difference (Government of India, 2008, Vol. 3, pg. 13). Many such findings and recommendations do exist. But institutional reform of existing actors (organizations) necessary for inclusive innovation � where people excluded thus far can participate in production systems and gain from the income streams generated, where R&D organizations and agricultural credit agencies change their current norms or ways or working, is difficult. There are however, lessons available from effective inclusive innovation systems in the drylands.

11. 4-7 May2009 R. S. Raina, CPR, New Delhi - IDRC Inclusive Innovation project Inclusive innovation � Civic space & Confrontation Samaj Pragati Sahyog, Madhya Pradesh Tribal villages, watershed development, agriculture Local relevance + high policy presence and influence ANTHRA, Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra Tribal communities, indigenous knowledge systems, women, goats Local relevance + high policy presence and influence

12. 4-7 May2009 R. S. Raina, CPR, New Delhi - IDRC Inclusive Innovation project Ways of knowing and behaving Shared values or principled beliefs - - least favoured regions & communities Shared understanding of causal relationships � identify & analyze problems, options, outcomes Common methodologies for validation of knowledge � criteria are community benefits, livelihoods + ecosystem benefits The term �epistemic communities� has come to denote mainly these features of similar normative values, belief in the same causal relationships, and a common methodology for validating knowledge. Members of an epistemic community need not belong to or conform to one professional or disciplinary identity or one particular political, social or ecological cause. Different actors - donors, line departments/ bureaucrats, enterprises, scientists, intermediaries like extension agents (the barefoot engineers in SPS or the tribal woman vet) or market contractors, tribal households � can be part of an epistemic community of watershed-development practitioners, when they share with the CSO, similar values, norms and validation methods. When located within a socially embedded watershed development innovation system, these actors (who otherwise belong to different disciplines, departments, political affiliations, castes etc) converge as one epistemic community. Over and above the technology involved, they share these norms or ways of working in knowledge and knowing; though in almost all the cases these norms are deviations from or total contradictions to the norms of their own formal discipline or department. The term �epistemic communities� has come to denote mainly these features of similar normative values, belief in the same causal relationships, and a common methodology for validating knowledge. Members of an epistemic community need not belong to or conform to one professional or disciplinary identity or one particular political, social or ecological cause. Different actors - donors, line departments/ bureaucrats, enterprises, scientists, intermediaries like extension agents (the barefoot engineers in SPS or the tribal woman vet) or market contractors, tribal households � can be part of an epistemic community of watershed-development practitioners, when they share with the CSO, similar values, norms and validation methods. When located within a socially embedded watershed development innovation system, these actors (who otherwise belong to different disciplines, departments, political affiliations, castes etc) converge as one epistemic community. Over and above the technology involved, they share these norms or ways of working in knowledge and knowing; though in almost all the cases these norms are deviations from or total contradictions to the norms of their own formal discipline or department.

13. CONVERGENCE Of values, norms, methods, practices, among different actors In a civic space with scope for making & accounting for mistakes Of ways to acknowledge and face conflict + how to negotiate Convergence at the national level? Innovation systems for inclusive growth in the drylands? 4-7 May2009 R. S. Raina, CPR, New Delhi - IDRC Inclusive Innovation project It is this institutional learning and convergence � of values, norms and practices � within the epistemic community that these CSOs have achieved. What is more exciting is that their inputs are being sought to address institutional learning and change (whether it is with the Planning Commission efforts of biodiversity management, formats for CAPART, criteria for NREGA, forestry laws etc) within the Government of India � an institutional convergence for a larger national level epistemic community to address inclusive innovation. But here comes the catch � the very organization of development administration, the technological (expertise-based) validation of development knowledge, and the values (or accounting) of development, militate against the creation of this epistemic community.It is this institutional learning and convergence � of values, norms and practices � within the epistemic community that these CSOs have achieved. What is more exciting is that their inputs are being sought to address institutional learning and change (whether it is with the Planning Commission efforts of biodiversity management, formats for CAPART, criteria for NREGA, forestry laws etc) within the Government of India � an institutional convergence for a larger national level epistemic community to address inclusive innovation. But here comes the catch � the very organization of development administration, the technological (expertise-based) validation of development knowledge, and the values (or accounting) of development, militate against the creation of this epistemic community.

14. 4-7 May2009 R. S. Raina, CPR, New Delhi - IDRC Inclusive Innovation project The problem Two totally opposed ways of knowing and behaving: (i) Formal organized actors - S&T, their policy/practice partners � legitimize productionism � food security (ii) Networks of democratic, learning based partners � legitimize sustainable livelihoods, production and ecosystems � food security subsumed in environmental/social security Mainstream development planning and administration are � Governed by certain values, belief in causal relationships, and methods of validating knowledge Bound by norms of autonomy and independence � not by mutual dependence and correlation Examples of innovation impeded � tube wells, fertilizers, watershed management (NRAA), cattle breeding, fodder and forest management � many more Mainstream development planning and administration are � Governed by certain values, belief in causal relationships, and methods of validating knowledge Bound by norms of autonomy and independence � not by mutual dependence and correlation Examples of innovation impeded � tube wells, fertilizers, watershed management (NRAA), cattle breeding, fodder and forest management � many more

15. 4-7 May2009 R. S. Raina, CPR, New Delhi - IDRC Inclusive Innovation project Innovation systems framework for dryland agriculture Speaks of coalitions of actors � With unequal power? Linkages and pro-active learning among actors - With no shared values? Institutional and technological changes � Without common perception of problems? Causes? Impacts? Enabling policy environments- With current policies and practices?

16. 4-7 May2009 R. S. Raina, CPR, New Delhi - IDRC Inclusive Innovation project Where and How can learning for inclusive innovation begin? In the CIVIC SPACE By acknowledging that WE ARE ALL CLIENTS By identifying EXCLUSION By making POWER explicit With pro-active engagement in POLICY PROCESSES OF ALL ACTORS