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on Development |
| By: | Vandevelde, S.; Van Campenhout, B.; Walukano, W. |
| Abstract: | Pervasive use of poor quality seed remains an important reason for low yields throughout the developing world. We attempt to increase the quality of the local stock of seed tubers among a sample of Irish potato farmers in Uganda. We do this by providing agricultural extension information about (i) how to select the best seed tubers and (ii) how to properly handle and store the seed potatoes until the next planting season. The information is provided through appealing videos, shown to individual farmers on mobile devices. While we find some effects on knowledge immediately after having shown the video, this effect has vanished one year later. We also find no effect of the videos on practices, input use, and final outcomes such as yield and consumption. However, there are signs that spillovers between treatment and control farmers may affect our results. After modeling spillovers among neighboring farmers, we find evidence that especially the video containing information on seed selection translated into adoption of improved practices, higher yields and increased welfare. Acknowledgement : We would like to thank the Embassy of the Netherlands in Uganda for funding this research through the Pasic project. We also thank the Ugandan Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industries and Fisheries (MAAIF), Economic Policy Research Centre (EPRC), National Agricultural Research Organization (NARO) and Kabale Zardi, and the International Fertilizer Development Centre (IFDC). We would like to thank Marc Charles Wanume for excellent field support. Senne Vandevelde acknowledges funding from the grant Policy Design and Evaluation Research in Developing Countries Initial Training Network (PODER), which is funded under the Marie Curie Actions of the EU's Seventh Framework Programme (Contract Number: 608109). |
| Keywords: | Crop Production/Industries |
| Date: | 2018–07 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:iaae18:277191&r=dev |
| By: | Mertens, K.; Vranken, L. |
| Abstract: | The poor and vulnerable tend to be increasingly exposed to natural hazards like landslides. This paper investigates the consequences of land transactions for the (un)equal distribution of exposure to landslide risk and of total land holdings in a rural area in Western Uganda. We propose and empirically test a mechanism through which land holdings and exposure to landslide risk evolves over a farmer s lifetime. A structured household survey and detailed information on land transaction as well as georeferenced information on plots was used to construct a panel dataset of land transactions. Regressions with household fixed effects were run to identify how landholdings and exposure to landslide susceptibility evolves over a farmer s lifetime. We find that farmers that are initially more exposed to landslides manage to reduce their average exposure to some extent by acquiring plots outside landslide prone areas. This goes at a cost, as farmers that are initially highly exposed acquire land more slowly than farmers that have a lower exposure on their first plot. Over a lifetime, in our case study, land transactions therefore have a somewhat levelling effect on inequality in exposure to landslide susceptibility, but increase the inequality in land ownership. Acknowledgement : This study would not have been possible without the dedicated effort of all enumerators involved in the data collection, the local chair persons and the farmers that provided us with abovementioned information. We would also like to thank the logistical support provided by the Mountains of the Moon University (MMU). The financial support was received from the AfReSlide project, BR/121/A2/AfReSlide, titled Landslides in Equatorial Africa: Identifying culturally, technically and economically feasible resilience strategies , funded by the Belgian Science Policy (BELSPO). We would also like to thank the VLIR UOS South Initiative, ZEIN2013Z145. |
| Keywords: | Risk and Uncertainty |
| Date: | 2018–07 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:iaae18:277235&r=dev |
| By: | Wegenast, Tim; Strüver, Georg; Giesen, Juliane; Krauser, Mario |
| Abstract: | Qualitative studies and media reports suggest that the presence of Chinese oil or mining companies generates resentments among local extractive communities due to low wages, poor working conditions, environmental degradation, the employment of foreign labour, and perceived racial discrimination. At the same time, Chinese investment in the extractive sector appears to enhance local infrastructure. So far, these claims have not been empirically tested in a systematic way. Relying on novel data on the control-rights regimes of diamond, gold, and copper mines and geo-referenced information from Afrobarometer surveys, this paper examines whether Chinese-controlled mining promotes anti-Chinese sentiments among the local populations of sub-Saharan African countries. In addition, we test the effect of mining contractors' nationality on socio-economic indicators such as local employment rates and infrastructure levels. Our logistic regression analysis for the period 1997-2014 reveals that the effect of Chinese mining companies on African local development is ambiguous: while proximity to Chinese-operated mines is associated with anti-Chinese sentiments and unemployment, populations living close to Chinese mining areas enjoy better infrastructure, such as paved roads or piped water. Multilevel mixed-effects estimations using district-level data from the Demographic Health Survey for 20 sub-Saharan countries corroborate these findings. |
| Keywords: | natural resources,Africa,China,mining,unemployment,infrastructure |
| JEL: | O13 Q34 O55 L72 E24 O18 |
| Date: | 2017 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:zbw:gigawp:308&r=dev |
| By: | Hoenig, Tillman |
| Abstract: | This study investigates the long-run effects of the civil war in Sierra Leone on education. Similar to the literature in other contexts, I exploit cohort and conflict variation within Sierra Leone from micro-level data in the spirit of a difference-in-difference (DID) design. Since schooling typically takes place at a particular age for people, using school age cohorts in such a way is a very natural method to estimate a plausibly causal effect of higher conflict intensity on the education of those affected by it. I find that a one standard deviation increase in conflict intensity led to a 0.3-0.5 year reduction in the amount of schooling for school aged children during the war by 2011, that is, ten years after the civil war ended. Some suggestive evidence on channels indicates that a major driver of this effect may be supply side factors. |
| Keywords: | Conflict, education, Sierra Leone, Civil War |
| JEL: | D74 I25 O12 |
| Date: | 2018 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:pra:mprapa:85064&r=dev |
| By: | Chilemba, Joanna; Ragasa, Catherine |
| Abstract: | Various models and approaches are being implemented to provide technical assistance and support to improve smallholder farmers’ incomes and welfare in Malawi. This study evaluates the impact of farmer business schools (FBS) on crop incomes of smallholder farmers in Dedza district in central Malawi. The FBS approach, which has been implemented nationally by the Government of Malawi since 2011, consists of one year of group training and learning sessions for smallholder farmers focusing on improving market access and establishing profitable agribusiness ventures. This study used a multi-stage sampling procedure to collect data from 455 smallholder farmers: 162 FBS graduates, 84 FBS dropouts, and 209 non-participants. Using propensity score matching and difference-in-difference techniques, crop incomes from two groups of farmers were evaluated; FBS participants and FBS non-participants as well as FBS graduates and FBS dropouts. The study finds a positive yet small impact of FBS participation on crop income and production (US$20 per year on average), and no significant difference in crop income and production for farmers who graduated from FBS versus those who dropped out. Insights from the qualitative research component of this study suggest that this is primarily due to the limited financial resources smallholder farmers have to implement the agricultural techniques and business models taught in FBS. |
| Keywords: | MALAWI; SOUTHERN AFRICA; AFRICA SOUTH OF SAHARA; AFRICA; smallholders; extension services; market access; incomes; impact assessment; income generation; agricultural policies; capacity building; farmer business schools (FBS) |
| Date: | 2018 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:fpr:masswp:23&r=dev |
| By: | Ghebru, H.; Holden, S. |
| Abstract: | There is growing interest in understanding the links between land reforms, land markets and poverty reduction in Africa. The study uses four-wave panel data from Norther highlands of Ethiopia to assess the dynamics of rural poverty taking into account rural households status of participation in the land rental market. Applying both non-parametric (Kaplan-Meier estimator) and semi-parametric survival models that control for duration dependence of poverty transition, results show participation and degree of participation on the supply side of the tenancy market (landlords) have highly significant and positive effect on the chances of escaping poverty while the same cannot be said about the demand side of the tenancy market (tenants). The empirical evidence also confirms that households headed by older and literate people have relatively larger exit rates from poverty as compared to households headed by younger and illiterate ones. Though transacting farmers may engage themselves in win win rental arrangements by the time they join the tenancy market, results indicate that gains are unequal as those tenants who enter the markets from low economic leverage (were poor) are liable to face lower margin of net gains, which may limit their ability to move out of poverty. Acknowledgement : Funding for this research has been received from the Research Council of Norway, the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs,and the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (NORAD) and further finanicial support from the CGIAR Research Program on Policies, Institutions, and Markets, led byIFPRI. None of these funders were directly involved in the design or implementation of the surveys and analytical work. The authors are not aware of any conflicts of interestrelated to the paper. The authors acknowledge valuable cooperation with Mekelle University and the Ethiopia Development Research Institute. All remaining errors are the sole responsibility of the authors. |
| Keywords: | Land Economics/Use |
| Date: | 2018–07 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:iaae18:277440&r=dev |
| By: | Kim, J.; Mason, N.; Snapp, S. |
| Abstract: | Food insecurity, child malnutrition, and land degradation remain persistent problems in sub-Saharan Africa. Agricultural sustainable intensification (SI) has been proposed as a possible solution to simultaneously address these challenges. Yet there is little empirical evidence on if SI do indeed improve child nutrition. To begin to fill this gap, we use Tanzania National Panel Survey data to analyze the child nutrition effects of rural households adoption of farming practices that contribute to the SI of maize production. We group households into four categories based on their use of three soil fertility management practices on maize plots: Non-adoption ; Intensification (use of inorganic fertilizer); Sustainable (use of organic fertilizer, maize-legume intercropping, or both); and SI (joint use of inorganic fertilizer with organic fertilizer and/or maize-legume intercropping). The full-sample results from multinomial endogenous treatment effects models suggest that adoption of all three categories improves children s height-for-age z-score (HAZ) relative to Non-adoption , while only the SI category enhances children s weight-for-age z-score (WAZ). Since children are largely breastfed until age 2, we re-estimate the models using children age 25-59 months, which suggests that adoption of Sustainable and SI categories increases HAZ by 0.44 and 0.38 units, respectively, and WAZ by 0.29 and 0.52 units, respectively. Acknowledgement : This research was supported by the US Agency for International Development (USAID) through funding to the Feed the Future Innovation Labs for Collaborative Research on Sustainable Intensification and Food Security Policy, and the USAID Mission to Tanzania. The authors wish to thank Neema Kassim, Jean-Claude Rubyogo, and Felicia Wu for helpful input on this research. |
| Keywords: | Crop Production/Industries |
| Date: | 2018–07 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:iaae18:277326&r=dev |
| By: | Biru, W.D.; Zeller, M.; Loos, T. |
| Abstract: | Abstract Despite large-scale public investment on research and technology adoption, as an effort to improve the livelihoods of smallholder farmers, rural poverty and vulnerability remain widespread in Ethiopia. Using three-round panel data between 2012 and 2016, this paper employed fixed effects and multinomial logit models to assess the effect of agricultural technologies and practices on consumption expenditure, poverty and vulnerability. The fixed effects model results indicate that use of chemical fertilizer, pesticides, improved seed, terracing and irrigation significantly influenced per capita consumption expenditure. The multinomial logit marginal effect estimates shows likelihood of chronic poverty decreased with the use of improved seed, chemical fertilizer, and contour plough, whereas, the use of irrigation reduced the likelihood of being vulnerable. We therefore conclude that agricultural technology dissemination through government supported programs has substantial dynamic benefits in reducing poverty and vulnerability. We suggest that much more intervention is needed to ensure that poor households exit poverty and protect the vulnerable from falling into poverty over time. It is crucial that smallholder farmer s especially the poor and the vulnerable households access to agricultural technologies and infrastructure (roads and irrigation) be improved. Keywords: vulnerability, poverty, technology adoption, Ethiopia Acknowledgement : Acknowledgment We thank the Deutsche Forschungsgeminschaft (DFG) for funding this research project. We are also grateful the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) in Addis Ababa for supportive equipments during the initial follow up survey year and providing us the baseline data. |
| Keywords: | Food Security and Poverty |
| Date: | 2018–07 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:iaae18:277269&r=dev |
| By: | Lay, Jann; Nolte, Kerstin; Sipangule, Kacana |
| Abstract: | In light of the surge in large-scale farms in developing countries, concerns have been raised that smallholders may be negatively affected. There is, however, very little evidence beyond case studies to support these claims. Drawing on nationally representative household data sets and an inventory of large-scale farms in Zambia, this study investigates the relationship between large-scale farms and smallholders. First, we analyse the geographical contexts of wards that host large-scale farms and show that large-scale farms are found in wards with good infrastructure and soil quality. Second, we adopt a difference-in-differences approach to estimate the impacts of large-scale farms on smallholders' area cultivated, maize yields, and access to fertiliser. We find that smallholders in wards with large-scale farms increase their area cultivated and maize yields, but have lower fertiliser usage. This hints at positive spillovers at the extensive and intensive margins but not at improved access to agricultural inputs. It is likely that these results are also driven by the emergence of medium-scale farms in these regions. |
| Keywords: | large-scale farms,yields,smallholders,spillovers,Zambia |
| JEL: | Q12 Q15 Q18 |
| Date: | 2018 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:zbw:gigawp:310&r=dev |
| By: | Kondo, M. |
| Abstract: | The structural transformation and corresponding labor productivity growth is one of the fundamentals of economic development. In the last 20 years the latest structural transformation has occurred in Sub-Saharan African countries. The structural transformation was, however, not always accompanied by overall labor productivity growth even with labor shift from low to high productivity sectors. This study is motivated to provide a microeconomic evidence of the effect of education on within-sector labor productivity in Uganda by jointly estimating returns to education and labor supply. To overcome double censoring problem, the combined model of Double Hurdle and Type III Tobit is constructed and applied for the estimation. Endogeneity of years of education is also tested and controlled by the IVs of primary school fee abolition policy and distance to nearest bank before implementation of the policy in born district. The results suggest an additional 1-year of schooling increases within-sector labor productivity by 0.049, 0.002, 0.128, 0.754 ($/hour) in farming self-employment, farming wage, nonfarm self-employment, nonfarm wage respectively. The joint estimation allows us to decompose the effect into the direct effect on wage, labor supply, labor composition, and the externality effect through own and other household members labor income. Acknowledgement : I thank Dr. Thomas Reardon for providing overall guidance of this study. For the valuable comments, I appreciate Dr. Jeffrey Wooldridge, Dr. Songqing Jin, and Dr. David Tschirley. The data of this study come from Uganda National Panel Survey (UNPS) and Uganda demographic and health survey (UDHS). UNPS was implemented by the Uganda bureau of statistics with financial and technical support from the government of Netherlands and the World Bank living standards measurement study-integrated surveys on agriculture (LSMS-ISA) project. UDHS was conducted by the ministry of finance and economic planning with the funding support from USAID. |
| Keywords: | Labor and Human Capital |
| Date: | 2018–07 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:iaae18:277473&r=dev |
| By: | Jaleta, M.; Marenya, P.; Beshir, B. |
| Abstract: | Using a unique household level panel data collected from the major maize producing regions of Ethiopia, this study assesses the role of crop diversification in minimizing the downside risks associated with the use of improved seed and chemical fertilizer in maize production. Empirical results show that maize-legume intercropping and rotation increases the average maize yield and reduces downside risk as captured by the estimated yield distribution using Endogenous Switching Regression models and quintile moment approaches. Controlling for plot and household level characteristics that may induce selection bias in technology adoption, maximum yield was obtained on plots with maize-legume rotation or intercropping sequences. The contribution of crop diversification in reducing downside risk in maize yield was higher when diversification was applied to plots that received improved seed and chemical fertilizers. In addition to the technical support provided to smallholder farmers on the use of improved seed and chemical fertilizer in maize production, the existing agricultural extension program in Ethiopia may also need to give due emphasis to both spatial and temporal crop diversification practices to enhance crop productivity further and reduce the potential downside risk hampering smallholder farmers initiatives in investing in purchased agricultural inputs in maize production. Acknowledgement : The authors would like to acknowledge two projects financially supported the collection of panel data used in this study: Sustainable Intensification of Maize-Legume cropping systems for food security in Eastern and Southern Africa (SIMLESA) project funded by the Australian Center for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR) and Diffusion and Impact of Improved Varieties in Africa (DIIVA) project funded by Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) through Bioversity International which collaborated with the Standing Panel for Impact Analysis (SPIA) in the CGIAR and CIMMYT. Views in this paper are of the authors. The usual disclaimer also works here. |
| Keywords: | Risk and Uncertainty |
| Date: | 2018–07 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:iaae18:277217&r=dev |
| By: | Keil, A.; Mitra, A.; Srivastava, A.; McDonald, A. |
| Abstract: | Zero-tillage (ZT) is a proven technology for sustainably enhancing wheat productivity in the densely populated Indo-Gangetic Plains (IGP). However, adoption remains modest, especially in the less productive East where farms are small, poverty is widespread, and ZT is relatively new and accessed mostly via custom-hiring services. To inform policy-makers and derive extension recommendations, we use a unique panel dataset from 961 wheat-growing households in Bihar to explore the dynamics of ZT adoption and its determinants over a three-year period, accounting for social network effects and access to ZT services. Using a heckprobit approach we estimate determinants of ZT awareness and -use in 2012 and 2015, correcting for non-exposure bias. We apply a multinomial logit model to identify determinants of early adoption, recent adoption, non-adoption, and dis-adoption. We find that a strong initial scale bias in knowledge and use of ZT declined substantially over the subsequent three-year period. Land fragmentation replaced total landholding size as a significant adoption determinant, education and caste mattered less, and the effect of farmers social networks increased. We conclude that the deployment of ZT through private-sector service providers can lead to relatively socially inclusive outcomes and recommend that service provision be fostered through appropriate policies. Acknowledgement : We gratefully acknowledge the willingness of the interviewed farm households to participate in the surveys. We thank USAID and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation for funding this research through the Cereal Systems Initiative for South Asia (CSISA) under the CGIAR Research Program on Wheat. |
| Keywords: | Crop Production/Industries |
| Date: | 2018–07 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:iaae18:277026&r=dev |
| By: | Jing, W.; Gebrekidan, T.; Sheng, B.; Yixin, G.; Chi, Z.; Qianyue, Z.; Yongchao, D.; Tamura, Y.; Neglo, K.; Lyu, K. |
| Abstract: | When weather shock strike in agrarian economies, households are often used to offtake, perhaps their productive livestock as major risk coping strategy. However, distressful asset offtake could result difficulties to recover after shock, consequently, the macro economy of a subsistence agriculture dependent country could slows down for longer years. In this paper, we analysed the dynamic effect of the index based livestock insurance on the herd offtake behaviour of herders in Borena zone, southernmost part of Ethiopia using three rounds panel data. Our results using fixed effect model analysis shows that households who purchased index-based livestock insurance coverage are less likely to offtake their herds. Empirically, it is appeared to have positive and significant effect on reducing the herd offtake behaviour of the households. This finding suggests that the coverage can help in reducing fear and worry of the herding households about the possible incidence of covariate herd loss. As a result, distressful herd offtake can be reduced and sustain the household s economic growth. Acknowledgement : We are very thankfull to Index Based Livestock Insurance (IBLI) project consortium members for making available rich panel data which enable us to write this paper. We also like to convey our special esteem to the ILRI for taking the initiative for realising the IBLI project. We gratefully acknowledges the valuable contributions of the financial innovation and rural development program research team members of Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (GSCAAS). We would like to extend our appreciation to the International Association of Agricultural Economists (IAAE) for its continual effort to foster agricultural economics and facilitating information exchanges among scholars. |
| Keywords: | Livestock Production/Industries |
| Date: | 2018–07 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:iaae18:277002&r=dev |
| By: | Hines, Annie Laurie (University of California, Davis); Simpson, Nicole B. (Colgate University) |
| Abstract: | This paper investigates the relationship between international migration, remittances and human capital investment in Kenya. We use household level data from the 2009 Kenya Migration Household Survey (produced by the Africa Migration Project) to test our hypothesis and uncover a positive and significant relationship between the amount of international remittances a household receives and the amount of expenditures allocated to education (for all levels of education). We consider various robustness checks and find that our results hold up to various specifications, including an instrumental variable approach. |
| Keywords: | migration, remittances, human capital |
| JEL: | F24 I25 J61 O12 |
| Date: | 2018–09 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:iza:izadps:dp11835&r=dev |
| By: | Masters, W.A.; Singh, P. |
| Abstract: | We provide results of a randomized trial comparing incentives for improved delivery of public services in India, targeting child nutrition through the work of salaried caregivers in Chandigarh, India. A winner-take-all prize paid to the best performer yielded less improvement than dividing the same award among workers in proportion to their share of measured gains. In our population of about 2,000 children served by 85 workers, using proportional rewards led to weight-for-age malnutrition rates that were 4.3 percentage points lower at 3 months (when rewards were paid) and 5.9 points lower at 6 months (after the contest had ended), with mean weight-for-age z scores that were .071 higher at 3 months, and .095 higher at 6 months. Proportional bonuses led to larger and more sustained gains because of better performance by lower-ranked workers, whose efforts were not rewarded by a winner-take-all prize. Results are consistent with previous laboratory trials and athletic events, demonstrating the value of proportional rewards to improve service delivery for child nutrition and other development outcomes. Acknowledgement : This project was funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (OPP1107973), with additional support from Amherst College and the Bharat Prakarsh Foundation. We are especially grateful to the mothers, children and Anganwadis who participated in our trial, to the Chandigarh Social Welfare Department and Child Development Bureau for their support, to our survey staff especially Alka Yadav, Paulin Priscilla and Sam Alpert, and for very helpful comments from Jere Behrman, Sonia Bhalotra, Karthik Muralidharan and Alessandro Tarozzi and other participants at the Conference on Child Development at the UPenn Center for Advanced Studies on India (CASI), 15-16 September 2017. |
| Keywords: | Labor and Human Capital |
| Date: | 2018–07 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:iaae18:277046&r=dev |
| By: | Marenya, P.; Kassie, M.; Teklewold, H.; Erenstein, O.; Qaim, M.; Rahut, D. |
| Abstract: | This paper examines the ex-post impact of the combination of cropping- system diversification (CSD) and the adoption of improved maize varieties on child stunting and household nutritional security. To control for selection and endogeneity bias, arising from time-variant and time-invariant individual heterogeneity, the study employs a fixed-effects multinomial endogenous switching regression using large, on a panel data set collected in maize-growing areas of Ethiopia between 2010 and 2013. Results highlight the significant effect of adoption of CSD and improved maize varieties on child stunting; per capita consumption of calories, protein, and iron; and dietary diversity. The greatest impact was achieved when farmers adopted CSD and improved maize varieties jointly rather than individually. Our results are a validation of the need to strengthen smallholder diversification in the face of subsistence production and limited access to food markets. In these scenarios, production of a diversified crop portfolio among low-income rural families should be encouraged, given the limited opportunities for specialization and constrained access to diversified diets through local food markets. Howerver, in the long run, market access to diverse food types is likely to provide more sustainable diet diversification and nutrition. Acknowledgement : We would like to acknowledge the Standing Panel on Impact Assessment of the Consulttaive Group on International Agricutural Research (CGIAR) and the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR) [grant number CSE/2009/024 and FSC/2012/024] through the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Centre (CIMMYT)-led Sustainable Intensification of Maize-Legume Cropping Systems in Eastern and Southern Africa (SIMLESA) and Adoption Pathways Projects. We also wish to thank the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research Programs (CRP) on maize (CRP MAIZE).The views expressed here are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of any of the organizations that funded this study nor those of CIMMYT. |
| Keywords: | Crop Production/Industries |
| Date: | 2018–07 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:iaae18:277170&r=dev |
| By: | Alene, A.D.; Wossen, T.; Abdoulaye, T. |
| Abstract: | This paper uses a DNA-fingerprinting based varietal identification approach to estimate adoption rates of improved cassava varieties in Nigeria. By applying a procedure that combines marginal treatment effects with a market-level model, the paper measures the counterfactual household income distributions for adopters. The paper then estimates poverty impacts of adoption of improved cassava varieties based on the differences between observed and counterfactual income distributions. Our results suggest that adoption of improved cassava varieties has led to a 4.7 percentage points poverty reduction at a poverty line of $1.25 per person per day (or 2.7% points poverty reduction if poverty line of $1.9 per person per day poverty line was considered). The analysis further suggests that farmers who are more likely to adopt improved varieties are also likely to face higher structural costs. Relaxing structural barriers that make improved technologies inaccessible and less profitable for poor households would therefore be important to maximize the poverty reduction roles of improved technologies such as cassava varieties. Further, we find that the poverty effects of adoption are very sensitive to the measurement of adoption status. Therefore, proper measurement of adoption status is crucial for estimating the poverty reduction effects of adoption accurately. Acknowledgement : This research was co-supported by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) under the grant the Cassava Monitoring Survey in Nigeria , the Roots, Tubers and Bananas (RTB) Research Program of the CGIAR and the ISPC-SPIA under the grant Strengthening Impact Assessment in the CGIAR System (SIAC). The contributions of Godwin Ashumuga, Peter Kulakow and Alfred Dixon to the conceptualization and design of this project is gratefully acknowledged. Field supervisors, enumerators, extension agents, NRCRI staffs and IITA staff from socioeconomics, bioscience, and cassava breeding units are recognized and thanked for their contributions. |
| Keywords: | Food Security and Poverty |
| Date: | 2018–07 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:iaae18:276980&r=dev |
| By: | Baulch, Bob; Gondwe, Anderson; Chafuwa, Chiyembekezo |
| Abstract: | In early 2016, Malawi suffered its second consecutive year of harvest failure. An emergency was declared in April 2016 and the resulting humanitarian response, known as the Food Insecurity Response Program (FIRP), was of unprecedented scale: almost 40 percent of the population received in-kind food or cash transfers (or both) at an estimated cost of US$ 287 million. Yet despite the extensive nature of the response, prices for the main food staple, maize, stayed relatively ‘flat’ throughout most of the year and then declined during the pre-harvest lean season. This paper examines this paradox, focusing on why in-kind food distribution did not depress maize prices while cash transfers did not raise them. Using daily information on maize prices, and food and cash transfers from ten major markets during the height of the FIRP, we employ time series methods to analyze the properties of the series and model the formation of maize prices using autoregressive distributed lag models. |
| Keywords: | MALAWI; SOUTHERN AFRICA; AFRICA SOUTH OF SAHARA; AFRICA; food aid; maize; agricultural prices; market prices; cash transfers; food transfer |
| Date: | 2018 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:fpr:masswp:22&r=dev |
| By: | Hänke, Hendrik; Barkmann, Jan; Blum, Lloyd; Franke, Yvonne; Martin, Dominic A.; Niens, Jasnna; Osen, Kristina; Uruena, Viviana; Witherspoon, S. Annette; Wurz, Annemarie |
| Abstract: | The SAVA Region in north-eastern Madagascar is the global centre of vanilla production. Here, around 70,000 farmers are estimated to produce 70-80% of all global bourbon vanilla. Yet, little is known about the farming population, their livelihoods, and the impact of vanilla cultivation on biodiversity. This publication presents the results of the Diversity Turn Baseline Survey (DTBS) that was conducted in 2017. The survey provides baseline data on the socio-economic characteristics and living conditions of the local population, and farming of vanilla as well as the most important other crops (n=1,800 households). As international demand for natural vanilla has increased considerably, special emphasis is placed on the vertical integration of vanilla farmers into the global vanilla value chain. This integration is increasingly accomplished through contract farming arrangements between vanilla farmers, collectors and exporters. After a first rise in vanilla prices in 2015, the current vanilla boom took off in 2016 and was still in full swing in 2017. Consequently, the start of the price boom coincides with this survey and its retrospective questions often address the situation in 2016. The large majority of the surveyed households (HHs) in the study region practice vanilla farming (83%). Of these, only 15% conclude formal contracts while the majority of farmers (63%) sell their vanilla in informal spot markets often depending on several middlemen. Our data show that the socio-economic situation of smallholder vanilla farmers has recently improved when considering vanilla prices received, education, access to electricity and ownership of assets. However, under the high vanilla prices, theft and crime are now key constraints for vanilla farmers. In addition to descriptive statistics, this publication compares selected data between male- and female-headed HHs, poor and non-poor HHs, and HHs with- and without contracts. Members of female-headed HHs have significantly lower education, lower labour availability, smaller fields and lower vanilla harvests than male-headed HHs. HHs with contracts possess more assets, are better educated, have higher labour availability, larger vanilla plots, and larger vanilla harvests than HHs without contracts. The DTBS confirms a number of benefits for smallholders who conclude contracts with vanilla exporters or collectors. Among these benefits are the significantly higher vanilla prices even during market peaks. However, the distribution of HHs with or without contracts is skewed indicating entry barriers for certain groups of smallholders. For example, female-headed HHs were significantly less likely to have a contract than male-headed HHs, and it appears that HHs with a contract had already been less poor than HHs without a contract prior to entering contract arrangements. |
| Date: | 2018 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:zbw:daredp:1806&r=dev |
| By: | Mason, N.; Morgan, S.; Levine, N.K.; Zulu-Mbata, O. |
| Abstract: | Poor and declining soil fertility remains a major constraint on increased cereal production in sub-Saharan Africa. Input subsidy programs (ISPs) for inorganic fertilizer are a popular and expensive tool used by African governments to increase cereal yields; however, far fewer resources are devoted to promoting other soil fertility management (SFM) practices that can improve soil quality, increase cereal yield response to inorganic fertilizer, and support sustainable agricultural intensification. This article uses nationally-representative household panel survey data from Zambia to estimate the effects of the country s ISP on smallholder farm households adoption of several SFM practices: fallowing, intercropping, crop rotation, and the use of animal manure. The results suggest that Zambia s ISP induces reductions in fallowing and intercropping of maize with other crops. We also find some evidence that the program incentivizes an increase in continuous maize cultivation on the same plot in consecutive seasons but little evidence of effects on animal manure use. The changes in SFM practices induced by the ISP are likely to be detrimental to soil fertility, maize yield response to fertilizer, and returns to government expenditures on the ISP over the medium- to long-term. Overall, Zambia s ISP may have dis-incentivized sustainable intensification rather than promoted it. Acknowledgement : This research was funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) through funding to the Feed the Future Innovation Lab for Food Security Policy and the USAID Mission to Zambia, and by the United States Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture and Michigan AgBioResearch (project number MICL02501). |
| Keywords: | Agricultural and Food Policy |
| Date: | 2018–07 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:iaae18:277491&r=dev |
| By: | Chan, C.; Laporte, P.; Chan-Dentoni, J.; Sipes, B.; Melakeberhan, H.; Sanchez-Perez, A.; Rodriguez, A.; Prado, P. |
| Abstract: | This study aims to assist in adopting production practices that lead to better soil health, low plant parasitic nematodes (PPN) population density, increased potato yield for farmers in Western Guatemala using fuzzy cognitive mapping (FCM). A cognitive map was developed representing farmers current perceptions of the production practices and their impacts. In comparison with agricultural professionals cognitive map provided knowledge gaps which will allow agricultural professionals to customize and design more effective technology transfer activities for greater adoption. Primary data were collected in Paquix, Huehuetenango from farmers and at the University of San Carlos in Guatemala from agricultural professionals. Both cognitive maps aligned in general with contrasting perceptions on the impact of certified seeds and compost practices on plant parasitic population density. Training and demonstration plots were perceived as influential to adoption by farmers. Farmers seemed ambiguous on the impact on yield but knowledgeable on the impact on soil health and plant parasitic population density. Most farmers said they receive their information from their local cooperatives and had actively participated in demonstration plots. Understanding the knowledge gaps and knowing where and how farmers got their information, agricultural professionals can effectively design workshops for effective dissemination and thus higher adoption rates. Acknowledgement : We thank Mr. A. Meji for his assistance with data collection. We thank Mr. I. Viteri and his staff at Popoyan for their assistance at multiple levels. This work was supported in part by the Horticulture Innovation Lab with funding from the U.S. Agency for International Development as part of the U.S. government s global hunger and food security initiative called Feed the Future. |
| Keywords: | Crop Production/Industries |
| Date: | 2018–07 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:iaae18:277153&r=dev |
| By: | Okello, J.J.; Muoki, P.; Kwikiriza, N.; Wambaya, J.; Heck, S. |
| Abstract: | Biofortification of crops to combat micronutrient deficiencies is gaining global recognition. Projects promoting biofortified crops use intensive agriculture-nutrition education and extension to increase adoption of such crops. This study used discrete choice regression analysis and data collected from households targeted by a project with one of the most intense agriculture-nutrition education and extension program to test the effect of such program on the adoption and diffusion of biofortfied crops. The study was conducted in western Kenya and involved 537 households with children under 5 years, a pregnant or lactating women. The study finds that intensive agriculture-nutrition education and extension programs adopted by some of the biofortification projects indeed increases the likelihood of adoption and diffusion of biofortified crops. It specifically finds that participation in events that offer practical education on the agronomy and preparation of foods from such crops, participation in mother-to-mother nutrition support platforms and nutrition-focused health talks affect adoption and diffusion of biofortified crops, but with varying degrees of importance. Among control factors, ability to conserve the planting material over dry period and household assets-endowments are important in both adoption and diffusion of biofortified crops. The paper discusses the implications of these findings. Acknowledgement : This research was undertaken as part of the CGIAR Research Program on Roots, Tubers and Bananas (RTB). Funding for this work provided by the SUSTAIN project under DFID. |
| Keywords: | Crop Production/Industries |
| Date: | 2018–07 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:iaae18:277199&r=dev |
| By: | De Frahan, B. Henry; Bali, J.; Tuyishime, C. |
| Abstract: | Subsidies for intermediate inputs represent considerable transfers from governments to farmers and, are implemented on a large scale in many developing countries to primarily achieve objectives of (1) national food security and (2) raising incomes for the poor and technology constrained farmers. Clearly, a trade-off exists between the two objectives whereby targeting beneficiaries for achieving pro-poor growth may lead to equity at the expense of efficiency. Nevertheless, knowing which group of farmers benefit more or less from these budgetary transfers is essential in order to re-allocate scarce budgetary resources more effectively. Taking the case of Rwanda as an example, this study uses an empirical modelling approach to assess the income and welfare effects of subsidies for intermediate inputs (i.e. fertilizers and improved seeds) across a heterogeneous set of agricultural households, under competitive and monopolistic input market structures. The results show positive policy outcomes for all representative households and these outcomes are twice higher when the input market structure is competitive. Although subsidies for inputs eventually help poor households to overcome cost burdens and participate in markets, a large share of the policy transfers is captured by large-scale producers who generally have the liquidity to purchase unsubsidized inputs. Acknowledgement : This paper analyses the income and welfare effects of government subsidies for intermediate inputs across heterogeneous farmers' households in Rwanda. Authors wish to acknowledge that the analysis relies on the Development Policy Evaluation Model (DevPEM) developed by the OECD. The study was conducted as part of the Monitoring and Analysing Food and Agricultural Policy (MAFAP) program implemented in the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, USAID, and the governments of the Netherlands and Germany. |
| Keywords: | Agricultural and Food Policy |
| Date: | 2018–07 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:iaae18:277469&r=dev |
| By: | Wanyama, R.; Godecke, T.; Qaim, M. |
| Abstract: | Many developing countries are undergoing a profound transformation of food systems. Especially in larger cities, supermarkets have become increasingly popular, affecting consumers food choices and diets. Previous research showed that supermarkets can have both positive and negative effects on dietary quality and nutrition. However, which households actually use supermarkets, and to what extent? While supermarket shopping is positively correlated with income, little is known about how important supermarkets are for the diets of the poor, who are of particular interest from a food policy perspective. The poorest of the urban poor often reside in informal settlements, so they are underrepresented in official surveys. We add to the literature by analyzing food consumption data collected from households in the poorest neighborhoods of Nairobi (Kenya) and Kampala (Uganda). We find high levels of nutritional deficiencies. Despite their ubiquitous presence, supermarkets are not yet very important for the diets of the urban poor. Supermarkets only account for 3% and 0.4% of sample households total food expenditures in Nairobi and Kampala, respectively. Especially unprocessed foods, which make up the largest share of calorie consumption, are primarily purchased in traditional retail outlets. We also show differences by food groups and income strata. Acknowledgement : This research was financially supported by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). The authors thank the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT), the Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization (KALRO), and the National Agricultural Research Organization (NARO)-Uganda, for their research cooperation in the project Making Value Chains Work for Food and Nutrition Security for the Vulnerable Populations in East Africa (grant number C-030-16), and the great support during the survey. |
| Keywords: | Consumer/Household Economics |
| Date: | 2018–07 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:iaae18:277027&r=dev |
| By: | Begum, I.A.; Alam, M.J.; Akter, S.; Talukder, R.K. |
| Abstract: | The objective of the study is to identify the productive outcomes of agricultural rehabilitation program (ARP) at household level in Bangladesh. The study used latest Household Income and Expenditure Survey, 2010 and have applied PSM approach to analyse the impacts. The study has chosen 4286 households to include in probit model as control group from the households other than the treated group of 446 households. Propensity scores ranged from approximately zero to one with a mean of 0.102. Various indicators such as labor allocation, income generating activities, investment and shock`s coping strategies etc. were chosen to identify the productive outcomes. The ATE on the treated was significant for income generating activities (farm and non-farm), labor allocation (farm and non-farm, self-employment) and investment (agricultural assets, inputs). The farm activities increased by 0.40 units but non-farm activities declined by 0.73 units per household due to agriculture rehabilitation program. One of the areas of reduction of labor unit is day laborer in non-farm sector - moved from non-farm to on-farm activities. The results suggest that ARP is a promising means of safety net for the marginal and small farmers in Bangladesh. This type of safety net could contribute more to productive outcomes. Acknowledgement : Acknowledgement: The research was financed under the Research Grants Scheme of the National Food Policy Capacity Strengthening Programme (NFPCSP). The NFPCSP is being implemented by the FAO of the United Nations and the Food Planning and Monitoring Unit, Ministry of Food with the financial support of EU and USAID. Disclaimer: The findings and presentation of material in this paper are those of the author(s). They do not necessarily reflect the views of FAO, nor do they imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of FAO or of the NFPCSP, Government of Bangladesh, EU or USAID. |
| Keywords: | Agricultural and Food Policy |
| Date: | 2018–07 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:iaae18:277428&r=dev |
| By: | Imelda, Imelda |
| Abstract: | This paper investigates on the extent to which the switching improves households' standard of living. Using a nationwide transition from kerosene to cleaner burning propane in Indonesia, I explore households' consumption response to fuel switching from a nation wide kerosene to liquid petroleum gas conversion program in Indonesia. Based on combustion efficiency and end-use energy equivalence, LPG is cleaner and more efficient than kerosene. Using variation in the timing of the implementation on four waves of the Indonesia longitudinal survey, I compare changes in expenditure within households of targeted districts with changes in expenditure within households of untargeted districts. I find that households reduce their kerosene consumption up to 100% and their fuel expenses are reduced by 40%, or 1.19 USD per month on average. These effects are higher among poor households. I do not find any response to other nondurable expenditures which provides some evidence of consumption smoothing. This is as expected considering the size of the effect is only about a 2% reduction from total monthly expenditure. |
| Date: | 2018–10–26 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:cte:werepe:27653&r=dev |
| By: | Oniki, S.; Berhe, M.; Negash, T. |
| Abstract: | Increasing population pressure in the rural areas of Sub-Saharan Africa causes degradation of communal lands, as well as increases in landless farmers. To promote the conservation based utilization of communal lands and increase the incomes of poor farmers, the Ethiopian government introduced a distribution program of the less-utilized communal lands to landless farmers. Although this policy is a novel approach to reducing population pressure while maintaining soil and water conservation, participation is not active enough in some areas. As such, this study shows the social norms for natural resource conservation of the communities affect the participation in the program. Using original farm household data, it estimates models for program participation determinants, especially the effects of social norms for conservation, represented by proportion of area enclosure, amount of activities for soil and water conservation, and evaluation by local government. The results show that the social norms for conservation affect program participation positively. They also show that the norms do not affect the farmers incomes, meaning norms directly influence participation. These results suggest the possibility of norm enhancement by extension works. Therefore, the sustainable utilization of communal lands would be more effective if it accompanies programs that improve social norms of villages. Acknowledgement : We would like to thank the staff of the Bureau of Agriculture and Rural Development of Tigray Region, Natural Resource Office of Woreda Kilte Awelaelo and Woreda Atsbi Wenberta, and Mekelle University for their support in data collection. This study presents part of the results of Forest and Farmland Conservation for Watershed Management in the Ethiopian Highlands (FFCW) Project, a component of Watershed Management in Africa of Japan International Research Center for Agricultural Sciences (JIRCAS). |
| Keywords: | Land Economics/Use |
| Date: | 2018–07 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:iaae18:277070&r=dev |
| By: | Feleke, S.; Manyong, V.; Abdoulaye, T.; Alene, A.; Wossen, T.; Dontsop, P. |
| Abstract: | The paper assesses whether, and if so, to what extent, the adoption of improved cassava varieties are more favourable towards the food insecure (pro-poor) as measured by the share of overall benefits. Data for this study came from a household survey conducted in Tanzania, DR Congo, Sierra Leone and Zambia through multinational-CGIAR support to agricultural research for development of strategic crops project in Africa. Given the observational nature of the data, a parametric approach (endogenous switching and Poisson regression model) was applied, accounting for potential self-selection bias that may arise from unobserved heterogeneities. Results provided consistent findings that adoption of cassava varieties decreased the rate, depth and severity of food insecurity. Decomposition of the overall average gains in calories due to adoption resulted in over four-fifths accruing to food insecure, compared to only one-fifth accruing to the food secure group. This implies that the impacts of cassava varieties are more favourable towards the food insecure than the food secure and thus present important evidence on the effectiveness of the adoption of cassava technology for reducing the rate and depth of food insecurity in sub-Saharan Africa. Acknowledgement : The authors wish to thank the African Development Bank (AfDB) for supporting the multinational-CGIAR support to agricultural research for development of strategic crops (SARD-SC) in Africa project that made possible the collection of the data used in the study. We are also thankful to the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture for supporting this study. |
| Keywords: | Crop Production/Industries |
| Date: | 2018–07 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:iaae18:277196&r=dev |
| By: | Mirzabaev, A.; Strokov, A.; Krasilnikov, P. |
| Abstract: | Land degradation is a critical challenge to sustainable development in Central Asia. The study found that land degradation over the previous three decades may have been responsible for about 27% losses in agricultural profits in the region during the 2009-2010 cropping season compared with the case without land degradation. Middle- and richer tercile of agricultural households lost a higher share of their farm profits due to land degradation, 30% and 34%, respectively. There was not a significant impact of land degradation on the farm profits of the poorest tercile. The poor agricultural households have a stronger dependence on land for their livelihoods, hence; have a stronger incentive to take a better care of land. The results corroborated this: the poor households applied, on average, 25% more sustainable land management practices than the richest group, and almost twice more than the middle group. The poor have higher incentives to manage their land sustainably if institutional and economic settings allow them to do so. Among such institutional factors, the study found that increasing crop diversification, securing land tenure and providing a better access to markets significantly contributed to higher farm profits among poor agricultural households in Central Asia. Acknowledgement : We thank the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, and Center for Development Research (ZEF), University of Bonn, for the support in the development of the methodological framework in this paper. The analysis and literature review in the paper were supported by Russian Science Foundation, project ? 14-38-00023. We are highly grateful to the International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA) for the survey data and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) for funding the survey. |
| Keywords: | Land Economics/Use |
| Date: | 2018–07 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:iaae18:277449&r=dev |
| By: | Zulu-Mbata, O. |
| Abstract: | In light of climate change, new technologies resilient to climatic variability have been promoted along the years among smallholder farmers. Conservation Agriculture (CA) is one such technology, which has been promoted since the 1990 s in Sub-Saharan Africa. However, as with any new technology, various factors affect adoption and ultimately the impact of the technology of which gender is one such factor. Both female and male smallholder farmers are faced with numerous constraints to access productive resources, more so for female farmers, resulting in limited adoption capability, which in turn reduces the impact that these technologies have on their livelihood. Using nationally representative data the study examines the gendered impacts of CA on livelihood outcomes - household income, crop income, crop diversification, and dietary diversity. Results show that CA adoption improves a household s level of dietary diversity and crop diversification. However, the impact of CA on these livelihood outcomes reduces if the household is female headed or the farmer (male or female) is in a female headed household. Therefore, promotion of CA should take into account the gender differences at household level and within the household, as well as female farmer s access to productive resources. Keywords: Conservation Agriculture, Gender, Impact, Zambia Acknowledgement : The Indaba Agricultural Policy Research Institute (IAPRI) is a non-profit company limited by guarantee that collaboratively works with public and private stakeholders. IAPRI exists to carry out agricultural policy research and outreach, serving the agricultural sector in Zambia so as to contribute to sustainable, pro-poor agricultural development. We wish to acknowledge the Financial and Substantive support of the Swedish International Development Agency (SIDA), the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the European Union 11th EDF programming in Lusaka. |
| Keywords: | Consumer/Household Economics |
| Date: | 2018–07 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:iaae18:277261&r=dev |
| By: | Herrington, C.; Funes, J.; Lividini, K.; Moursi, M.; Taleon, V.; Asare-Marfo, D.; Birol, E. |
| Abstract: | Globally, two billion people suffer from micronutrient malnutrition. Biofortification, the process of breeding staple food crops to have higher micronutrient content, has proven to be efficacious and cost-effective in addressing micronutrient malnutrition. To determine where and in which crop-micronutrient combinations to invest, a global Biofortification Prioritization Index (BPI) was developed (Asare-Marfo et al., 2013). While a country s rank in the global context is useful, it is not granular enough to develop strategies within heterogenous countries. Therefore, this paper utilizes methodology to develop a subnational-level BPI for Nigeria, a country which shows promise for biofortified crops. The subnational BPI is based on three sub-indices: production, consumption, and micronutrient deficiency. In addition, targeted areas are classified as areas of: (1) impact and intervention, (2) impact, or (3) intervention. Sensitivity analyses tested the robustness of BPI results on single sub-index parameters. For vitamin A maize s introduction, the North East and North West zones offer the most promise while the southern zones generate the greatest impact for the introduction of vitamin A cassava. Concentrating vitamin A sweet potato investments in the North Central zone is the most effective while focusing in the North West is the most promising strategy for iron pearl millet. Acknowledgement : The authors would sincerely like to thank Dr. Erick Boy, Head of the HarvestPlus Nutrition Research Unit, and Ms. Amarachi Utah for their consultation and support of this research. |
| Keywords: | Crop Production/Industries |
| Date: | 2018–07 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:iaae18:277092&r=dev |