Systems Thinking Approach to Agricultural Management

What is it about?

Constraints and challenges in the agricultural industry of Ghana limit its productivity. Policy constraints could be a major issue when it comes to agricultural sustainability. Whether policymaking is based on sound principles that take into account the intended and unintended consequences led to exploring the use of a fresh approach towards determining effective interventions (policies) through a systems approach. Capacity building using a systems thinking approach that focuses on the four levels of thinking and using the concepts of an Evolutionary Learning Laboratory during a series of stakeholder workshops in Ghana has shown a remarkable impact on the ability of the agricultural industry to evolve, improve and raise its efficacy. Results from Bayesian belief network (BBN) models indicated that the implementation of systemically determined interventions, policies and strategies could result in chances of ‘agricultural productivity’ being ‘good’ as high as 92.2% from 57.5%, while the chances of reducing poverty levels from 44.9% to 10.0% are plausible. These would also lead to a significant increase in the yield and profit of the farmers. These BBNs are used for scenario testing to determine the potential outcomes of different systemic interventions by observing what would happen to the system as a whole when a particular intervention/strategy or combination of interventions/strategies are implemented: that is, before any time or money is invested in actual implementation. This approach provides more clarity on dealing with complex sustainability challenges and should gradually replace the reductionist approach (e.g. short-term quick fixes and treating the symptoms) in dealing with challenges and developing policies.

Featured Image

Why is it important?

Insights into potential system behaviours and leverage points for systemic interventions required for smart cagricultural project management were identified. The systems models will help governments and private agricultural advocates to anticipate the long-term consequences of their decisions and actions, as well as help to avoid any unintended consequences of policies and strategies such as ‘silo mentality’ and ‘organizational myopia’. As demonstrated in the aforementioned CLD and BNN model, agricultural projects will remain to be the engine that develops and empowers the emerging and existing commercial agribusiness, and nation building across Africa. This systems thinking approach will also provide more clarity in dealing with the complex management challenges and gradually replace the traditional theoretical linear approach of dealing with agricultural management.

Perspectives