The effect of Sustainable Frugal Innovations on agriculture productivity

The dynamism of the agricultural sector environment requires continuous innovation to cope with emerging challenges. Sustainable frugal innovations (SFIs) are an attempt to scale above sustainability challenges in agriculture. Zimbabwe, like many emerging economies has embraced the application of sustainable frugal innovations in farming. The study sought to assess the impact of sustainable frugal innovations on the growth of the agriculture sector. In this study, Agriculture growth is defined as increase in productivity hence the terms growth and productivity are used interchangeably. A quantitative research was adopted to gather data from agriculture experts. Correlation tests were run on economic, environmental and social sustainability against productivity. The relationship between sustainable frugal innovations and agriculture productivity was tested through regression analysis. The findings revealed positive relationship between sustainable frugal innovation and agriculture growth. These findings provide vital insights to motivate creation and adoption of sustainable frugal innovations. Application of sustainable frugal innovations is expected to increase efficiency in production and processing of agriculture produce hence grow the agriculture sector


Introduction
World food demand forecasts predicted that global population needs double the current food production by the year 2050 (Ridley and Hill;2018, Sayer andCassman, 2013). Agriculture innovation centres such as scientific laboratories, research institutes, firms and farmers are working on techniques to improve yields, cut costs, enhance nutrition and adapt to climatic change (Ridley and Hill, 2018). From the earliest theories of agriculture productivity, such as the Esther Boserup's agriculture intensification theory, it has been established that increase in agriculture productivity is reliant on innovations. Van der Veen, (2010) posited that agriculture innovation is primarily about increasing production and quality of produce, production process and quality of life. In the progression of green revolution, innovations such as chemical fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides, mechanisation and computerisation has been applied for the intensification of agriculture. Continual agricultural intensification brought new challenges to the farmers and the ecosystems. These challenges included soil salinization, eutrophication, biodiversity loss and toxic accumulation (Ridley andHill, 2018 andBiswas et al., 2014). Emergent economic, social, sustainability challenges and climate change threats led to new breed of agriculture innovation known as sustainable frugal innovations (Sissoko and Castiaux, 2018). Due to these problems, it has become important for innovators to be mindful of sustainability dimensions when developing agriculture innovations.
Sustainable frugal innovations are budding innovations which aim to attain sustainability using the minimum possible amounts of resources (Khan, Laurens and Bas, 2019 and Albert, 2019). Like any other agriculture innovations, sustainable frugal innovations are applicable in crop husbandry, animal husbandry, horticulture, agriculture economics and mechanisation (van der Veen, 2010). Whilst researches proved a positive relationship between sustainable agriculture and productivity (Pretty and Thompson, 2002), there are variations as to how economic sustainability, social sustainability and environmental sustainability affect productivity. Lack of clarity on the relationship between sustainable innovations and agriculture growth explains the low adoption of these innovations, as farmers are uncertain about the consequences (Saravanan, 2010 ). The current study aimed at finding the relationship between sustainable frugal innovations and agriculture productivity.

Sustainable frugal Innovations
Sustainable Frugal Innovations (SFIs) is a blend of three words, which are gaining popularity in the 21 st century. Khan, Laurens and Bas, (2019), defined Sustainable Frugal innovations as hybrid innovations, which inherit both sustainability and frugality traits. Concurring with Khan, Laurens and Bas, (2019). Albert (2019), described Sustainable frugal innovations as ecological and social sustainable innovations characterised by minimum usage of raw materials, energy, fuel, water, and financial resources. Albert, (2019) added that SFIs are more affordable and better accessible than other conventional innovations available to users. The definitions shows an overlap and a common intersection of sustainability, frugality and innovation. Without necessarily mentioning the term sustainable frugal innovation (Sim, 2014;Khan, 2016; Fredriksson and Tömmervik, 2013; Numminen and Lund, 2017 and Ratten, Ramirez-Pasillas and Lundberg, 2020) confirmed the relationship between sustainability, frugality and innovation despite them referring to different innovation contexts. Illustrating the interconnectedness of sustainability, frugality and innovation (Nhokovedzo, 2021) used the Venn diagram below

Sustainable Frugal Innovations
Source (Nhokovedzo, 2021:96) From reviewing the SFIs concept, Khan, Laurens and Bas, (2019), deduced that frugality contribute to sustainability but not all frugal innovations are sustainable innovations. Similarly, not all sustainable innovations are frugal. The convergence of sustainability and frugality occurs in the context of innovation (Levänen et al., 2016) as both are enhanced by the same. To understand the SFIs concept, it was necessary in this study to disintegrate the phrase back to its founding terms namely sustainability, frugality and innovation as explained in the below table

Performance
Performance is the ability of an innovation to consistently function the way it is expected to (Brem et al., 2020;Storey and Easingwood, 1999; Molina-Castillo, Munuera-Alemán and Calantone, 2011) Aesthetics Aesthetics refers to the response to an innovation, product, design, artefact or system, which manifest in senses. The senses such as vision, hearing, touch smell, taste contribute to aesthetics of a sustainable frugal innovation (

Adaptability
Adaptability is a quality of innovation modifiability to meet the emerging needs. According to Martinez and Xue (2016) adaptable product design aim to create innovations that can be easily changed to satisfy new requirements. Adaptable innovation designs considers functionality, manufacturing costs, customisation and environmental sensitivities Modularity Modularity is a quality of an innovation or product to have composed elements or modules that can perform independently or perform distinct functions. The modular design enables autonomy of parts or components (Pandremenos and Chryssolouris, 2014). According to Miguel (2005), modularity is a set of principles for managing complexity in innovation design, it has become increasingly necessary due to the growing complexity in the technology world.

Sustainable frugal innovations in Agriculture
Under different names, sustainable frugal innovations have been applied in agriculture in recent years. The term sustainable frugal innovation is still new (Nhokovedzo, 2021)

Methods and Instruments
The study adopted a quantitative methodology in determining the perceived effect of sustainable frugal innovations on agriculture growth. A sample of 218 respondents was drawn from various subsectors of the Zimbabwean agriculture sector such as agronomy, mechanisation, animal husbandry and agriculture economics. The study applied a stratified random sampling method (Kumar, 2012), stratifying according to areas of specialisation.. A randomised sampling criterion was applied with each stratum and a standard questionnaire was administered to the informants through electronic means. A one directional correlational analysis was performed on the sustainable frugal innovations variables against agriculture productivity. A regression analysis of sustainable frugal innovation and agriculture productivity was performed.

Instrument development and data collection procedures
A standardised questionnaire was chosen as the optimum measurement continuum (Boateng, Neilands and Frongillo, 2018). The instrument was configured into an online form, google survey format for easy distribution and convenience in responding using electronic gadgets such as computers and smart phones. The methods of data collection applied were fully compliant with the Covid 19 protocols. Telephonic calls and social media messages were used for seeking consent, reminding the respondents and thanking them.

Quality control protocols
A miniature data collection was done to test the flow of the study instrument. Reliability of the instrument was tested using SPSS interpreted using the Cronbach's alpha. The sample adequacy was tested using KMO and Bartlett test. A response rate of 78% was recorded and considered sufficient (Fincham, 2008).

Relationship between Sustainable Frugal Innovations and agriculture sector growth Economic sustainability and agriculture growth
The research endeavoured to establish the relationship between economic sustainability and agriculture growth. The term growth in these tests refers to agriculture productivity.   .000 . **. Correlation is significant at the 0.05 level (1-tailed). b. Listwise N = 171 At a stricter confidence interval of 95%, it was established that there is a moderately strong, positive relationship between social sustainability and agriculture productivity. The test was significant with pvalue of .000, which is less than 0.05.

Frugality and agriculture growth
The frugality variable, comprised of its constructs namely, functionality, usability, adaptability, aesthetics, accessibility, robustness and modularity, was correlated with agriculture growth using the Spearman's test. Test scores were as below Correlations Impact of SFIs on productivity Fruga Spearman's rho Impact of SFIs on productivity Correlation Coefficient 1.000 .715 ** Sig. (1-tailed) .
At 95% confidence interval, a very strong magnitude of 0.715 was established in a positive direction. Frugality greatly contribute to the growth of the agriculture sector. The test significance was 0.000, which is within the acceptable threshold of less than 0.05.

Impact of Sustainable Frugal innovations on agriculture growth
The research sought to determine the relationship between sustainable frugal innovations and the growth of the agriculture sector. This was the mainstay of the current study. A one tail, Spearman test was performed and the test scores were as below .000 . N 171 171 **. Correlation is significant at the 0.05 level (1-tailed).

Correlations
A strong positive relationship between sustainable frugal innovations and agriculture growth was established. The test was significant, with a p-value of .000.

Regression analysis
There was need to perform a regression analysis to precisely estimate the influence of Sustainable Frugal Innovations (SFIs) on agriculture growth. The regression outcome is tabulated below Model Summary  (Kothari, 2004;Bhattacherjee, 2012 andKumar, 2012) because it is more accurate in sharing the predictive power on the dependent variable. As a percentage, productivity is explained 30.7% by sustainable frugal innovations. However, the remaining 69.3% is explained by other variables, other than sustainable frugal innovations. These other factors could be farmers' incentives, climatic variables, edaphic variables and pestilence infestations.  An ANOVA analysis was performed between environmental sustainability and agriculture productivity at 95% confidence interval. The F value of 75.590 was obtained and a P-Value of 0.000. Since the Pvalue of 0.000 is less than 0.05. Therefore, it is established that there is a linear positive relationship between sustainable frugal innovations and increase in agriculture productivity.

Discussion
The research tested a one directional relationship between Sustainable Frugal Innovations and growth of the agriculture sector. A positive relationship was determined through a correlational and regression analysis. The findings shows that application of sustainable frugal innovations improve economic, environmental and social sustainability although at varying magnitudes. Economic sustainability of agriculture innovations contribute more to agriculture productivity than the environmental and social sustainability of the same innovations. Tomchek, (2021) findings on the impact of sustainable innovations on agriculture resonates with the findings of the current study. Congruent to the positions shared earlier mentioned, (Tomchek, 2021) advised that developing countries seek affordable technologies which are easy to access. Such technologies are the sustainable frugal innovations. A somewhat weak correlation was established between environmental sustainability of agriculture innovations and agriculture productivity. Most fertilizer formulations and agrochemicals used in agriculture intensification are largely detrimental to the environmental health (Biswas et al., 2014). The weak relationship between environmental sustainability and productivity is in partial convergence with (Prada, Bravo-ureta and Shah, 2003) findings which concluded a negative relationship between the two.
Previous studies are generally concurring with the positive impact of sustainable agriculture innovations on growth (Ridley and Hill, 2018 and van der Veen, 2010). Ogundari and Bolarinwa, (2018) carried out a meta-analysis, reviewing over 150 journals; the conclusion was a positive relationship between innovations an economic, environmental and social aspects of agriculture. There is a striking resonance between the current study and Ogundari and Bolarinwa, (2018) research because the later was biased towards contemporary innovation forms and technologies of which Sustainable Frugal Innovations are part of. In the same vein, researches on frugality effects are in harmony with current research findings. The essence of frugality is to achieve, more with less for more, (Khan, 2016 and Khan, Laurens and Bas, 2019). However, some findings diverge from the current study findings as they establish a negative relationship between sustainable agriculture and productivity (Prada, Bravo-ureta and Shah, 2003). The debate is heavily titled against aspects of environmental sustainability (Prada, Bravo-ureta and Shah, 2003). Overall, the current and previous research findings are in synch on the positivity of the relationship between Sustainable Frugal Innovations and growth.

Conclusion
The study concluded that sustainable frugal innovations positively contribute to agriculture growth. Therefore, sustainable frugal innovations have a huge potential to alter the agriculture growth trajectory of developing countries. In a world where sustainability in agriculture is now topical, sustainable frugal innovations are a possible option towards achievement it. The race to sustainable agriculture is in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development goal number 2. The creation, adoption and utilisation of sustainable frugal innovations is important in achieving the SDG 2. Lastly, burdens of poor farmers who use labour intensive and ineffective traditional farming methods could be lessened through application of these affordable innovations.