Extending Bright Spots

Identifying key drivers behind 'bright spots' is imperative if they are to be propagated on a wider scale.

Essential drivers

Preliminary analysis of three types of case studies reveals the importance of these drivers for different types of 'bright spots'.

Three types of 'bright spots' cases:

• Community: holistic diversified development
  > Watershed development and protection projects in India that involve a variety of innovations
  
  
• Technology: adoption of improved technology
  > Adoption of low-input, water saving rice production system
  
  
• Spontaneous: improved with existing resources
  > Farms that have achieved high yields and salinity remediation beyond that attained by neighboring farms, although all operate under the same constraints

Respondents were asked to rank from 1 to 5 the importance of each driver to success.

A key element in the success of 'bright spots' has been the perceived importance of individual aspirations and leadership. However, the changes that are to be implemented require low risk and quick and tangible outcomes. Clear differences in perceived important of drivers emerges from an analysis of different types of bright spots. Equal emphasis was placed on all ten drivers for holistic development at the community level, while individual aspirations and leadership along with an appropriate technology dominate the perceived drivers for adoption of an improved technology for single component of a farming system. Spontaneous bright spots that occur with existing resources also requires a strong component of individual leadership, while social and technological drivers are also highly valued.

For more information on this analysis please contact Andrew Noble at a.noble@iwmi.org