Social-institutional problem dimensions of late blight and bacterial wilt of potato in Ethiopia

Abstract

This Ph.D. study is part of this continued effort in the research frontier that aims to broaden the understanding of the problem situation, and the investigation of alternative management strategies for the diseases (Abdurahman et al., 2017; Kassa, 2016; Kassa and Eshetu, 2008; Kuarabachew et al., 2007; Lemaga et al., 2005). It is a specific case study in the broader EVOCA (Responsible Life-Science Innovations For Development In The Digital Age: Environmental Virtual Observatories for Connective Action) research program that seeks to leverage life-science knowledge, digital technologies, citizen science and responsible innovation to deal with crop, water, livestock and disease management challenges in Africa (Cieslik et al., 2018). Positioned in the crop disease management component of the program, this study set out to understand the problem of late blight and bacterial wilt with a social-technical lens, and to explore the roles that different social-technical interventions play in the management of crop diseases, particularly late blight. Within this broader objective, the study also examines prospects for digital technologies as enablers of social-technical practices in the management of the diseases.