Invisible hands, indigenous knowledge and inevitable fads: Challenges to public sector agricultural research in Ghana

Support for public sector agricultural research in developing countries is declining. At the same time, many donors feel that alternative institutions will be able to perform the functions traditionally reserved for the public sector. These alternatives include private sector initiatives, nongovernment organizations and farmer organizations, and highly publicized special projects in agricultural development. The logic of these alternatives is examined using evidence on maize research in Ghana. Although each of the alternatives offers contributions, and public sector research undoubtedly requires an overhaul, emphasis is placed on the necessity of continued suport to building strong public sector agricultural research capacity.