Scientific contributions and publications

The case study and PhD projects have resulted in a vast range or scientific findings and publications in international peer-reviewed journals, including a full special issue in NJAS: Wageningen Journal of Life Sciences.

Publications per sub-theme covered in the programme through the six different case studies.

New knowledge about crop, livestock, and human vector diseases

  • Tafesse, S., Braam, C., Mierlo, van, B., Lemaga, B., & Struik, P. C. (2021). Association between soil acidity and bacterial wilt occurrence in potato production in Ethiopia. Agronomy, 11(8). https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy11081541
  • Chepkwony, R., van Bommel, S., & van Langevelde, F. (2021). Interactive effects of biological, human and environmental factors on tick loads in Boran cattle in tropical drylands. Parasites & Vectors, 14(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-021-04683-9
  • Chepkwony, R., Castagna, C., Heitkönig, I., Bommel, V. S., & Langevelde, V. F. (2020). Associations between monthly rainfall and mortality in cattle due to east coast fever, anaplasmosis and babesiosis. Parasitology, 147(14), 1743–1751.
    https://doi.org/10.1017/S0031182020001638

Social science contributions to effective disease managements

  • Murindahabi, M. M., Takken, W., Hakizimana, E., van Vliet, A. J. H., Poortvliet, P. M., Mutesa, L., & Koenraadt, C. J. M. (2022). A handmade trap for malaria mosquito surveillance by citizens in Rwanda. Plos One, 17(5), 0266714. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0266714
  • Mutavi, F., Heitkönig Ignas, Wieland, B., Aarts, N., & Paassen, A. V. (2021). Tick treatment practices in the field : access to, knowledge about, and on-farm use of acaricides in Laikipia, Kenya. Ticks and Tick-Borne Diseases 12 (2021) 5. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ttbdis.2021.101757
  • Damtew, E., van Mierlo, B., Lie, R., Struik, P., Leeuwis, C., Lemaga, B., & Smart, C. (2020). Governing a collective bad: social learning in the management of crop diseases. Systemic Practice and Action Research, 33(1), 111–134. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11213-019-09518-4
  • Tafesse, S., van Mierlo, B., Leeuwis, C., Lie, R., Lemaga, B., & Struik, P. C. (2020). Combining experiential and social learning approaches for crop disease management in a smallholder context: a complex socio-ecological problem. Socio-Ecological Practice Research, 2(3), 265–282. https://doi.org/10.1007/s42532-020-00058-z
  • Tafesse, S., Lie, R., Mierlo, van, B., Struik, P. C., Lemaga, B., & Leeuwis, C. (2020). Analysis of a monitoring system for bacterial wilt management by seed potato cooperatives in Ethiopia: challenges and future directions. Sustainability, 12(9).
    https://doi.org/10.3390/su12093580
  • Asingizwe, D., Poortvliet, P. M., Koenraadt, C. J. M., Vliet, A. J. H., Ingabire, C. M., Mutesa, L., Leeuwis, C. (2019). Role of individual perceptions in the consistent use of malaria preventive measures: mixed methods evidence from rural Rwanda. Malaria Journal, 18(1), 1–19.
    https://doi.org/10.1186/s12936-019-2904-x
  • Damtew, E., Tafesse, S., Lie, R., Mierlo, B. van, Lemaga, B., Sharma, K., Struik, P. C., & Leeuwis, C. (2018). Diagnosis of management of bacterial wilt and late blight in potato in Ethiopia: a systems thinking perspective. Njas: Impact in Agricultural and Life Sciences 86-87 (2018).
    https://doi-org.ezproxy.library.wur.nl/10.1016/j.njas.2018.03.003
  • Mutavi, F., Aarts, N., Paassen, A. V., Heitkönig Ignas, & Wieland, B. (2018). Techne meets metis: knowledge and practices for tick control in Laikipia county, Kenya. Njas: Wageningen Journal of Life Sciences 86-87 (2018).
    https://doi-org.ezproxy.library.wur.nl/10.1016/j.njas.2018.08.001
  • McCampbell, M., Schut, M., Bergh, I. V. den, Schagen, B. van, Vanlauwe, B., Blomme, G., Gaidashova, S., Njukwe, E., & Leeuwis, C. (2018). Xanthomonas wilt of banana (bxw) in central Africa: opportunities, challenges, and pathways for citizen science and ict-based control and prevention strategies. Njas: Journal of Agricultural and Life Sciences 86-87 (2018).
    https://doi-org.ezproxy.library.wur.nl/10.1016/j.njas.2018.03.002
  • Tafesse, S., Damtew, E., van Mierlo, B., Lie, R., Lemaga, B., Sharma, K., Leeuwis, C., Struik, P. C. (2018). Farmers’ knowledge and practices of potato disease management in Ethiopia. Njas: Wageningen Journal of Life Sciences, 86-87(1), 25–38.
    https://doi.org/10.1016/j.njas.2018.03.004

Proof of principle about the role of social media in disease management

The programme found evidence about the importance of social media (e.g. WhatsApp groups), especially for extension agents, in communicating about crop diseases, how the use of social media would be fluid (depending on information needs), and why actors may prefer social media over dedicated applications developed to e.g. monitor crop diseases.

  • Munthali, N., Paassen, A. V., Leeuwis, C., Lie, R., Lammeren, R. van, Aguilar-gallegos, N., Oppong-Mensah, B. (2021). Social media platforms, open communication and problem solving in the back-office of Ghanaian extension: a substantive, structural and relational analysis. Agricultural Systems 190 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agsy.2021.103123
  • Munthali, N., Lie, R., Lammeren, R. V., Paassen, A. V., Asare, R., Leeuwis, C. (2021). Intermediation capabilities of information and communication technologies (icts) in Ghana’s agricultural extension system. The African Journal of Information and Communication (Aijc) 28 (2021) https://doi.org/10.23962/10539/32212
  • Munthali, N., Leeuwis, C., van Paassen, A., Lie, R., Asare, R., van Lammeren, R., Schut, M. (2018). Innovation intermediation in a digital age: comparing public and private new-ict platforms for agricultural extension in Ghana. Njas: Wageningen Journal of Life Sciences, 86-87(1), 64–76 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.njas.2018.05.001

Evidence and new hypotheses about the influence of communicative interventions on collective action and social learning

Experimental research work in Ethiopia with potato farmers and Rwanda with banana farmers contributed scientific understanding about how (digital) communication interventions may have both positive and negative effects for individual and collective action and performance, depending on the design of the intervention, and that these interventions may positively contribute to social learning among farmers if providing a space for knowledge exchange and deliberation.

  • Damtew, E., Leeuwis, C., Struik, P.C., Cecchi, F., van Mierlo, B., Lie, R., Lemaga, B. & Cieslik, K., 2020. Communicative interventions for collective action in the management of potato late blight: evidence from a framed field game experiment in Ethiopia. Food Security, v. 13, p.255-271.
    https://doi-org.ezproxy.library.wur.nl/10.1007/s12571-020-01120-0
  • Cieslik, K., Cecchi, F., Damtew, E.A., Tafesse, S., Struik, P.C., Lemaga, B. and Leeuwis, C., 2021. The role of ICT in collective management of public bads: The case of potato late blight in Ethiopia. World Development, v. 140, p.105366-. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.worlddev.2020.105366
  • Galarza-Villamar, J., McCampbell, J.A., Leeuwis, C., & Cecchi, F. (2021). Adding Emergence and Spatiality to a Public bad Game to study dynamics in socio-ecological systems (Part I): The design of Musa-game for integrative analysis of collective action in banana disease management. Sustainability, 2021, 13 (16).9370. https://doi.org/10.3390/su13169370
  • Galarza-Villamar, J., McCampbell, M., Galarza-Villamar, J.A., Leeuwis, C., Checchi, F., & Galarza-Rodrigo, J. (2021) A public bad game method to study dynamics in socio-ecological systems (Part II): Results of testing Musa-game in Rwanda and adding emergence and spatiality to the analysis. Sustainability, 2021, 13(16), 9353.
    https://doi.org/10.3390/su13169353

    Digitalization as facilitator for financial access for farmers

    • Agyekumhene, C., de Vries, J. R., van Paassen, A., Macnaghten, P., Schut, M., & Bregt, A. (2018). Digital platforms for smallholder credit access: the mediation of trust for cooperation in maize value chain financing. Njas: Wageningen Journal of Life Sciences, 86-87(1), 77–88. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.njas.2018.06.001

    Perspectives on inclusion and user readiness in the context of digital agriculture

    • McCampbell, M., Rijswijk, K., Wilson, H., & Klerkx, L. (2021). A problematisation of inclusion and exclusion. The Politics of Knowledge in Inclusive Development and Innovation. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003112525-12
    • McCampbell, M., Adewopo, J., Klerkx, L., & Leeuwis, C. (2021). Are farmers ready to use phone-based digital tools for agronomic advice? ex-ante user readiness assessment using the case of rwandan banana farmers. The Journal of Agricultural Education and Extension (2021). https://doi.org/10.1080/1389224X.2021.1984955

    Insights about the use(fulness) of engaging users in the design of digital communication innovations

    By studying the use of a participatory or co-design approach in the Ghanaian maize case and the Rwandan banana case the programme was able to develop insights about how this approach is in practice implemented within a development context, how the influence of farmers on the design of a digital interface affected their perceptions about and demands for digital innovations, and the consequences (from a responsible innovation perspective) of decisions made during the design process and the characteristics of the digital innovations resulting from that process.

    • McCampbell, M., Schumann, C., & Klerkx, L. (2022). Good intentions in complex realities: challenges for designing responsibly in digital agriculture in low-income countries. Sociologia Ruralis, 62(2), 279–304. https://doi.org/10.1111/soru.12359
    • Nyamekye, A. B., Klerkx, L., & Dewulf, A. (2021). Responsibly designing digital agriculture services under uncertainty in the global south. The Politics of Knowledge in Inclusive Development and Innovation. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003112525-13
    • Agyekumhene, C., de Vries, J., v. Paassen, A., Schut, M., & MacNaghten, P. 2020. Making Smallholder Value Chain Partnerships Inclusive: Exploring Digital Farm Monitoring through Farmer Friendly Smartphone Platforms. Sustainability 12, no. 11: 4580.
      https://doi.org/10.3390/su12114580

    Knowhow about the use of citizen science approaches in Africa

    • Murindahabi, M. M., Takken, W., Misago, X., Niyituma, E., Umupfasoni, J., Hakizimana, E., van Vliet, A. J. H., Poortvliet, P. M., Mutesa, L., Murindahabi, N. K., & Koenraadt, C. J. M. (2021). Monitoring mosquito nuisance for the development of a citizen science approach for malaria vector surveillance in Rwanda. Malaria Journal, 20(1).
      https://doi.org/10.1186/s12936-020-03579-w
    • Murindahabi, M. M., Hoseni, A., Vreugdenhil, C., Vliet, V. A., Umupfasoni, J., Mutabazi, A., Hakizimana, E., Poortvliet, M., Mutesa, L., Takken, W., & Koenraadt, S. (2021). Citizen science for monitoring the spatial and temporal dynamics of malaria vectors in relation to environmental risk factors in Ruhuna, Rwanda. Malaria Journal, 20(1).
      https://doi.org/10.1186/s12936-021-03989-4
    • Asingizwe, D., Poortvliet, P. M., Koenraadt, C. J. M., van Vliet, A. J. H., Ingabire, C. M., Mutesa, L., Leeuwis, C., & Soundy, A. (2020). Why (not) participate in citizen science? motivational factors and barriers to participate in a citizen science program for malaria control in Rwanda. Plos One, 15(8), 0237396. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0237396
    • Asingizwe, D., Poortvliet, M. P., Vliet, A. J. H. van, Koenraadt, C. J. M., Ingabire, C. M., Mutesa, L., & Leeuwis, C. (2020). What do people benefit from a citizen science programme? evidence from a Rwandan citizen science programme on malaria control. Malaria Journal 19 (2020).
      https://doi.org/10.1186/s12936-020-03349-8
    • Asingizwe D, Murindahabi M.M., Koenraadt CJM, Poortvliet PM, van Vliet AJH, Ingabire CM, Hakizimana E, Mutesa L, Takken W, & Leeuwis C. (2019). Co-Designing a Citizen Science Program for Malaria Control in Rwanda. Sustainability. 2019; 11(24):7012.
      https://doi.org/10.3390/su11247012
    • Cieslik, K. J., Leeuwis, C., Dewulf, A. R. P. J., Lie, R., Werners, S. E., Wessel, M. van, Feindt, P., & Struik, P. C. (2018). Addressing socio-ecological development challenges in the digital age: exploring the potential of environmental virtual observatories for connective action (evoca). Njas Wageningen Journal of Life Sciences 86-87 (2018).
      https://doi.org.ezproxy.library.wur.nl/10.1016/j.njas.2018.07.006
    • Werners, S. E., & Struik, P. C. (2018). Reflections on the potential of virtual citizen science platforms to address collective action challenges: lessons and implications for future research. Njas: Impact in Agricultural and Life Sciences 86-87 (2018).
      https://doi-org.ezproxy.library.wur.nl/10.1016/j.njas.2018.07.008
    • Asingizwe, D., Ingabire, C., Mutesa, L., Poortvliet, P. M., Feindt, P. H., Koenraadt, C. J. M., Murindahabi, M. M., & Van, V. A. J. H. (2018). Applying citizen science for malaria prevention in Rwanda: an integrated conceptual framework. Njas - Wageningen Journal of Life Sciences, (2018). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.njas.2018.06.002
    • Murindahabi, M. M., Asingizwe, D., Poortvliet, P. M., Vliet, A. J. H. van, Hakizimana, E., Mutesa, L., Takken, W., & Koenraadt, C. J. M. (2018). A citizen science approach for malaria mosquito surveillance and control in Rwanda. Njas Wageningen Journal of Life Sciences 86-87 (2018). https://edepot.wur.nl/458688
    • Chepkwony, R., van Bommel, S., & van Langevelde, F. (2018). Citizen science for development: potential role of mobile phones in information sharing on ticks and tick-borne diseases in Laikipia, Kenya. Njas: Wageningen Journal of Life Sciences, 86-87(1), 123–135.
      https://doi.org/10.1016/j.njas.2018.07.007

    New knowledge about the exchange of climatological information

    • Nyadzi, E., Werners, S. E., Biesbroek, R., & Ludwig, F. (2022). Towards weather and climate services that integrate indigenous and scientific forecasts to improve forecast reliability and acceptability in Ghana. Environmental Development, 42, 100698–100698. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envdev.2021.100698
    • Nyamekye, A.B., Nyadzi, E., Dewulf, A., Werners, S., Van Slobbe, E., Biesbroek, R. G., Termeer, C.J.A.M. & Ludwig, F. (2021). Forecast probability, lead time and farmer decision-making in rice farming systems in Northern Ghana, Climate Risk Management, Volume 31, 2021, 100258. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.crm.2020.100258
    • Nyadzi, E., Werners, S. E., Biesbroek, R., & Ludwig, F. (2021). Techniques and skills of indigenous weather and seasonal climate forecast in northern Ghana. Climate and Development, 13(6), 551–562. https://doi.org/10.1080/17565529.2020.1831429
    • Nyamekye, A. B., Dewulf, A., Slobbe, V. E., &; Termeer, K. (2020). Information systems and actionable knowledge creation in rice-farming systems in northern Ghana. African Geographical Review, 39(2), 144–161. https://doi.org/10.1080/19376812.2019.1659153
    • Nyadzi, E., Werners, S. E., Biesbroek, R., Phi Long, H., Franssen, W. H. P., & Ludwig, F. (2019). Verification of seasonal climate forecast towards hydro-climatic information needs of rice farmers in northern Ghana. Weather, Climate and Society, 11(1), 127–142.
      https://doi.org/10.1175/WCAS-D-17-0137.1
    • Nyadzi, E., Nyamekye, A. B., Werners, S. E., Biesbroek, R. G., Dewulf, A., Slobbe, E. V., Long, H. P., Termeer, C. J. A. M., & Ludwig, F. (2018). Diagnosing the potential of hydro-climatic information services to support rice farming in northern Ghana. Njas: Wageningen Journal of Life Sciences, 86-87(1), 51–63. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.njas.2018.07.002
    • Nyamekye, A. B., Dewulf, A., Van Slobbe, E., Termeer, K., & Pinto, C. (2018). Governance arrangements and adaptive decision-making in rice farming systems in northern Ghana. Njas: Wageningen Journal of Life Sciences, 86-87(1), 39–50.
      https://doi.org/10.1016/j.njas.2018.07.004