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New Maize Variety Adoption in Mozambique: A Spatial Approach

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  • Di Fang
  • Timothy J. Richards

Abstract

Farmers in developing countries can dramatically improve their productivity by adopting new plant varieties. Yet, informational barriers often mean adoption rates remain low. In this study, we focus on how learning from others represents one means of removing informational barriers. We capture the effect of social learning through an explicitly spatial econometric model applied to farm‐level maize adoption rates in Mozambique. We find that social learning is significant and can help explain the apparent clustering of adoption among farmers. Agencies interested in promoting variety adoption, therefore, would be well served to leverage the strength of existing information networks, rather than imposing solutions that work against interfarmer information flow. Les agriculteurs de pays en voie de développement améliorent leur productivité en adoptant de nouvelles variétés de plantes. Pourtant, des obstacles à l'information maintiennent bas les taux d'adoption. Cette étude porte sur l'apprentissage par les pairs comme moyen d'éliminer les obstacles à l'information. Nous capturons les effets de l'apprentissage par les pairs au moyen d'un modèle économétrique explicitement spatial appliqué aux taux d'adoption de maïs au niveau des fermiers en Mozambique. Nous avons découvert que l'apprentissage par les pairs s'avère considérable et peut expliquer le regroupement apparent d'adoption par les agriculteurs. Les agences souhaitant faire la promotion de l'adoption de variétés seraient donc bien servies si elles mettaient à profit la puissance de réseaux déjà existants, plutôt que d'imposer des solutions qui freinent le flux d'information entre agriculteurs.

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  • Di Fang & Timothy J. Richards, 2018. "New Maize Variety Adoption in Mozambique: A Spatial Approach," Canadian Journal of Agricultural Economics/Revue canadienne d'agroeconomie, Canadian Agricultural Economics Society/Societe canadienne d'agroeconomie, vol. 66(3), pages 469-488, September.
  • Handle: RePEc:bla:canjag:v:66:y:2018:i:3:p:469-488
    DOI: 10.1111/cjag.12166
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    Cited by:

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    2. Musa Hasen Ahmed & Kassahun Mamo Geleta & Aemro Tazeze & Hiwot Mekonnen Mesfin & Eden Andualem Tilahun, 2017. "Cropping systems diversification, improved seed, manure and inorganic fertilizer adoption by maize producers of eastern Ethiopia," Journal of Economic Structures, Springer;Pan-Pacific Association of Input-Output Studies (PAPAIOS), vol. 6(1), pages 1-16, December.
    3. Varshney, Deepak & Joshi, P.K. & Roy, Devesh & Kumar, Anjani, 2021. "Understanding the Adoption of Modern Cultivars in India: Adoption probability and use intensity," Journal of Agricultural and Resource Economics, Western Agricultural Economics Association, vol. 47(1), January.
    4. Hongyun Zheng & Wanglin Ma & Gucheng Li, 2021. "Learning from neighboring farmers: Does spatial dependence affect adoption of drought‐tolerant wheat varieties in China?," Canadian Journal of Agricultural Economics/Revue canadienne d'agroeconomie, Canadian Agricultural Economics Society/Societe canadienne d'agroeconomie, vol. 69(4), pages 519-537, December.

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