Mapping Actor Diversity and Functional Roles in an Agricultural Virtual Platform in Uganda: Insights from M-Omulimisa

Abstract

Agricultural Virtual Platforms (AVPs) enable diverse actors to exchange information that addresses multidimensional farming challenges. This study examined the diversity of actors engaged in M-Omulimisa AVP and how their roles collectively facilitated information exchange. A qualitative case study involving four key informant interviews, document reviews, 21 in-depth interviews, and three focus group discussions was conducted. Data analysis employed the Agricultural Innovation Systems (AIS) framework. Findings revealed variations in the diversity of actors per domain, their attributes, and their functional roles. Actors belonged to all five domains of AIS: education and research, intermediary, enterprise, demand, and support structures domains. However, diversity within each domain remained limited, with several key actors, especially from the livestock sector, absent. Actors’ attributes indicated that the majority enrolled in the AVP by invitation, had interests focused on crop enterprises, and varied capabilities. Joining the AVP by invitation partly explains the limited actor diversity within domains and the emphasis on crop enterprises. Three role categories that jointly shaped the functionality of the AVP emerged: those assigned and played, assigned but not played, and not assigned yet played. In conclusion, the platform achieved diversity across the AIS domains but not within each domain. Actors’ enrolment through invitation reduced actor diversity, which subsequently limited the information sources. Further, the unperformed roles led to the evolution of roles on the AVP and undermined information exchange. This study recommends enrolment to focus on intra-domain representation of actors, especially for the livestock sector, while promoting other enrolment methods to ensure diversity.