Knowledge Diffusion from China into Ghana’s Agricultural Sector: Processes, Contexts and Success Variations Among Agricultural Sub Sectors

Abstract

Development literature show that when actors from different territories meet knowledge is likely to be shared in more relational and interactive terms. This argument forms the basis for interrogating the essence of knowledge diffusion from China into Ghana’s agricultural sector in terms of forms, contexts, processes and success variations. The research was qualitative in nature with the deployment of exploratory research design. The study used data collection methods involving 8 interviews and 3 focus group discussions involving purposively selected individuals, groups, state and non-state institutions in the agricultural sector. The dynamics of knowledge diffusion from China into Ghana’s agricultural sector, as the study found out, present certain unique patterns of non uniformity. Such non uniformities formed the basis upon which the knowledge diffusion processes could be understood and applied. Arrays of mediums were found as being used to diffuse the knowledge from China into Ghana’s agricultural sector in the contexts of increasing degrees of technological advancement and state-initiated policy arrangements. The study also found out that the successful diffusion of knowledge from one territory to another largely depends on the linguistic parity as well as foundational knowledge, adaptive power and innovative abilities of the actors in the recipient country. In all cases, the varied degree of diffused knowledge between the territories shows that the involvement of the state could be the defining factor in promoting knowledge diffusion.