Innovations in plant health services in Nicaragua: from grassroots experiment to a systems approach

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal articlepeer-review

  • Solveig Danielsen
  • Julio Centeno
  • Julio López
  • Lilliam Lezama
  • Gregorio Varela
  • Patricia Castillo
  • Cony Narváez
  • Ivania Zeledón
  • Francisco Pavón
  • Eric Boa
Establishing a few community-based plant clinics in Nicaragua led to a series of innovations in plant health service delivery. A grassroots experiment became a nationwide initiative involving local service providers, universities, research institutions and diagnostic laboratories. This led to the creation of a ‘National Plant Health System’ offering regular advice to farmers. The innovations were driven by a momentum for change, committed individuals, joint learning and flexibility in programme management. External facilitation encouraged experimentation and bolstered growth of new alliances. The development of the
national plant health system was constrained by existing work cultures that limit the scope of individual and institutional innovations.
Original languageEnglish
JournalJournal of International Development
Volume25
Issue number7
Pages (from-to)968-986
Number of pages19
ISSN0954-1748
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2013

ID: 34204494