In the last two decades, increased attention is being given to the need to institutionalise
participatory approaches in agricultural research and development (ARD) organisations.
Institutionalisation is understood as “a process through which new ideas and practices are
introduced, accepted and used by individuals and organisations so that these new ideas and
practices become part of ‘the norm’. Institutionalisation of a new approach involves change
and development within the targeted organisations” (Sutherland 2000).
Institutionalising participatory approaches such as Participatory Innovation Development
(PID) into public agricultural organisations can make agricultural development more effective
and sustainable. Application of PID can lead to social and political transformation. “When
people start to innovate something and get good results, they become more confident and
empowered. This leads them to more freedom. It is also about changing the mindset of
scholars who say ‘poor people always need our support’. Such mindset encourages poor
people to be dependent and always expects support from outsiders” (CEDAC president,
personal communication, 2009).
There is much literature discussing what institutionalisation should be and listing conditions
that need to be in place (e.g. Thompson 1995, Pretty & Chambers 1994, Stroud 2003).
However, few case studies have looked deeply into the process of PID institutionalisation in
a particular context. The study reported here tries to fill that gap by analysing in detail the
efforts and their outcomes in bringing PID into a government extension organisation: the
Provincial Department of Agriculture (PDA) in Takeo Province of Cambodia. The study
shows that, although there was no systematically designed process of institutionalisation in
this case, a clever combination of diverse training, implementation and support activities
resulted in a certain degree of integration of PID within PDA Takeo. Important lessons have
been learned on what supports and what hinders such integration in practice.