How to ask Colombian farmers for innovation: A methodological approach

Innovation is a term which on its own is intangible, without finite boundaries, and, therefore, extremely difficult to assess in terms of its true value in measurable terms. Collecting information through effective field surveys on innovation is a notoriously difficult task, even more so in the agricultural sector where complexities are compounded by a combination of heterogeneity, informality and low education levels. In this paper, we propose to present on a methodology for researching innovation in the agriculture sector, both technological as well as non-technological. We also propose to present the results of the application of this methodology in two agricultural subsectors, cut-flowers and tomatoes.

The methodology is based on open questions, which are answered in a joint effort between the interviewee and interviewer. The questions are guided from objectives of innovation, creating an environment of discovery. This methodology allows having a list of innovations that can be analysed from different perspectives, in order to better understand its dynamics.

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