Innovation Processes of Cymbopogon Citratus Tea in Manipur, India: An Actor Network Theory Perspective

By adopting Actor Network Theory (ANT) in the empirical context of Cymbopogon citratus Tea (CC Tea) in Manipur, this paper analyses the networks of key actors in the innovation process. Innovation happens when there is an interaction between actors, institutions and economic structures across the level of hierarchy. In this process, there has been a close association between human and non human. Ethnographic case study is used to understand the socio-cultural and ethnographical context of key actors in the CC Tea innovation process. Semi structured in-depth interview has been conducted to the selected areas. It concludes that ANT is highly significant to understand the networks of humans and non humans associated with the innovation process thereby giving a new theoretical interpretation in the Science and Technology Studies (STS) domain in this sector.