AGRICULTURAL INNOVATION IN 3 AREAS OF KENYA - NEO-BOSERUPIAN THEORIES AND REGIONAL CHARACTERIZATION

Deriving from induced innovation theory, and strongly influenced by Boserup, recent work by Hans Binswanger and his colleagues focuses on the significance of factor scarcities, particularly land availability, in shaping technological change in agriculture. Typologies of regions and innovations are used in proposing the kinds of innovations in demand in regions of varying population density. Recent works by other writers emphasize instead agroecological characteristics and government policy as driving technological change, focusing on positive elements, rather than constraints, in the inducement to innovation. This paper examines, and tests empirically, several main hypotheses in this literature. Experiences of agricultural change in three regions in Kenya are discussed, using survey and historical data. The research suggests that technological change in a region is determined both by factor scarcities and marketing opportunities. In many cases, the presence of a nonfood cash crop economy has provided access to new technology and helped develop a market infrastructure. Binswanger and his colleagues hypothesize that improved market connections will act.similarly to population growth in stimulating technology demand; these case studies suggest that population-induced intensification is likely to differ from changes occurring in response to marketing opportunities. In any given area, either or both of these forces may be significant. Accordingly, an appropriate regional characterization should include at least four categories defined by the two variables of population density and infrastructure. Each category can produce a distinct pattern of technological change. This framework and scale of analysis may prove especially useful for geographic research.