The Establishment of the Rahad Agriculture scheme in Eastern Sudan in the 1970s established an agricultural innovation system where different actors including research, extension, investment, and agro-pastoral farmers network in order to provide better livelihoods within the irrigated scheme area. The investigation of this research focused on the question of how knowledge of farming has been networked among the actors in the scheme so as to facilitate the innovation process within Rahad Scheme area which is the settlement of agro pastoralist farmers to practice irrigated farming. This broad research question has been broken down to specific research questions of what the roles of actors of Rahad scheme, and what their structure and communication pattern are in seeking information on farming and livestock keeping within the scheme. The research tried to answer these questions using arguments of knowledge system thinking and social network theory.In order to understand the roles of Rahad Scheme actors, researchers have implemented Rapid Appraisal of Agricultural Knowledge Systems (RAAKS) which is a tested participatory action research methodology used to investigate knowledge systems including agricultural innovations. Phase A, of RAAKS was implemented in form of semi structured interviews and one group discussion with actors who are representing Rahad Scheme management( extension department), government institutions, research and finance institutions. Those actors are concerned with the achievement of agricultural innovation at level of Rahad scheme administration. Phase B of RAAKS was conducted using semi structure interviews with individuals and associations of the agro pastorals who were resettled in villages within the scheme area to practice irrigated farming. This category included; farmers´ and pastorals´ associations, women´s associations, youth clubs, and local leaders (sheikhs). In a second step, researchers collected social network data from actors at Rahad scheme by asking; who communicate with whom, how strongly or weakly actors are connected. Research study in Rahad Scheme concluded that the structure of the network at level of Rahad Scheme showed the prominence of actors central to the network that influence information flow within the actorsHowever, some central actors at Rahad Scheme level such as the Pastoral Union and Farmers Union can exploit the Rahad Scheme network with personal and political interests that may shift the innovation process in the scheme. Farming and pastoral activities are not well coordinated within the scheme area; this situation had resulted on a negative relating between Pastorals Union and Farmers Union. The network at level of Rahad Scheme also contains actors that have fewer connections within the network but are connected to outside sources of knowledge. Connections of actors at level of villages are showing that there are actors who are weakly connected on communicating information on farming and livestock keeping. It is also revealing prominence of local bridges or actors who are well connected at level of Rahad scheme but connected with weak ties with actors in villages. Researcher is suggesting implementation of Phase C of RAAKS through managing of network of relations between actors at different level of Rahad Scheme. A work shop to discuss the finding of this study among actors of Rahad scheme is being suggested. Conducting such a workshop can also let actors at level of Rahad Scheme recognize their weak connections and put practicalities to improve it. Building multi hubs network in Rahad scheme is suggested by the researcher to manage network of relations in Rahad scheme. Extension in Rahad Scheme is the actor who should introduce hubs to their followers. Multi hub model is hoped to produce well connected actors at different levels of the scheme which can foster information exchange between actors of the scheme. In future it is expected that total network of Rahad Scheme become connected to outsider sources of knowledge by developing a periphery - core network. Managing relations networks in Rahad scheme according to the mentioned manner is expected to improve the performance of agriculture innovations in Rahad scheme.
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