Assessment of the Performance of Innovation Support

Thus, in the context of this study and the agricultural sector, we refer to innovation as the increase of productivity in the agricultural sector through promotion and dissemination of modern technologies/practices in the cereals (wheat, maize and rice) and horticulture (fruits and vegetables) sectors, as well as enhancing quality of produce, production process and growing conditions (Van Der Veen. [...] Governments around the world have realized the importance of SMEs to the future growth of the economy, since they have a critical role to play in the economic development of the poorer nations of the world (Calvin, 2002). [...] These factors are relevant in the context of Tanzania agriculture SMEs, since the Tanzania population is a mix of rural and urban and the majority of agricultural activities are carried out in rural areas; SME levels of education influence the adoption of innovation in Tanzania and more so, the level of industrialisation and development is still low and it therefore affects the rate of innovation. [...] These policies are enunciated hereunder: 10 4.3.1 The SME Development Policy, 2003 The overall objective of the SME Policy is to foster job creation and income generation, through promoting the creation of new SMEs and improving the performance and competitiveness of existing ones, to increase their participation, and contribution to the Tanzanian economy. [...] 5.2.1 University Innovation Hub Centres In the context of innovation, the study focused on innovation centres hosted at the innovation hub of the Sokoine University of Agriculture (SUA), the Sokoine University Graduate Entrepreneurs Cooperative (SUGECO), the University of Dar es Salaam (UDSM) and particularly its Innovation & Entrepreneurship Centre (UDIEC), and the University of Dodoma (UDOM).