Abstract:
This chapter investigates the uptake of innovation induced by downstream
actors by sunflowers SMEs in Tanzania with the use of an interview-based qualitative
study of data collected in Dodoma, Tanzania. This study reveals that SMEs pay less
attention to organizational innovation. However, they are much more focused on production innovation in the interest of servicing markets. Furthermore, the study reveals
that a major factor that influences the uptake of innovation from downstream are not
final consumers, but rather government agencies. For instance, most SMEs involved
in the study search for funds to buy small oil refinery machines after government bans
of the selling of raw oil. This suggests that processors still think consumers will absorb
everything because there is lack of supply and demand is high.
