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Can mobile phones improve agricultural outcomes? Evidence from a randomized experiment in Niger

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  • Aker, Jenny C.
  • Ksoll, Christopher

Abstract

The widespread growth of mobile phone coverage worldwide has offered new potential for increasing rural households’ access to information and public and private transfers. Yet despite the proliferation of mobile phone-based interventions in the agricultural sector, there is mixed evidence on their impact. We report the results of a randomized evaluation in Niger, in which rural households increased their access to information technology and their capacity to use it. We find that households in treated villages planted a more diverse basket of crops, particularly marginal cash crops grown by women. This did not increase the likelihood of selling these crops or the farm-gate price received, suggesting that other market failures need to be addressed to improve farmers’ welfare.

Suggested Citation

  • Aker, Jenny C. & Ksoll, Christopher, 2016. "Can mobile phones improve agricultural outcomes? Evidence from a randomized experiment in Niger," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 60(C), pages 44-51.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jfpoli:v:60:y:2016:i:c:p:44-51
    DOI: 10.1016/j.foodpol.2015.03.006
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Jenny C. Aker & Marcel Fafchamps, 2015. "Mobile Phone Coverage and Producer Markets: Evidence from West Africa," The World Bank Economic Review, World Bank, vol. 29(2), pages 262-292.
    2. Jenny C. Aker & Isaac M. Mbiti, 2010. "Mobile Phones and Economic Development in Africa," Journal of Economic Perspectives, American Economic Association, vol. 24(3), pages 207-232, Summer.
    3. Jenny C. Aker, 2010. "Information from Markets Near and Far: Mobile Phones and Agricultural Markets in Niger," American Economic Journal: Applied Economics, American Economic Association, vol. 2(3), pages 46-59, July.
    4. Robert Jensen, 2007. "The Digital Provide: Information (Technology), Market Performance, and Welfare in the South Indian Fisheries Sector," The Quarterly Journal of Economics, President and Fellows of Harvard College, vol. 122(3), pages 879-924.
    5. Adriana Camacho & Emily Conover & econover@hamilton.edu, 2010. "The Impact of Receiving Price and Climate Information in the Agricultural Sector," Documentos CEDE 7907, Universidad de los Andes, Facultad de Economía, CEDE.
    6. Jenny C. Aker & Christopher Ksoll & Travis J. Lybbert, 2012. "Can Mobile Phones Improve Learning? Evidence from a Field Experiment in Niger," American Economic Journal: Applied Economics, American Economic Association, vol. 4(4), pages 94-120, October.
    7. Marcel Fafchamps & Bart Minten, 2012. "Impact of SMS-Based Agricultural Information on Indian Farmers," The World Bank Economic Review, World Bank, vol. 26(3), pages 383-414.
    8. Adriana Camacho & Emily Conover & econover@hamilton.edu, 2010. "The Impact of Receiving Price and Climate Information in the Agricultural Sector," DOCUMENTOS CEDE 007907, UNIVERSIDAD DE LOS ANDES-CEDE.
    9. Shawn A Cole & A Nilesh Fernando, 2021. "‘Mobile’izing Agricultural Advice Technology Adoption Diffusion and Sustainability [Dial “a” for agriculture: using ICTs for agricultural extension in development countries]," The Economic Journal, Royal Economic Society, vol. 131(633), pages 192-219.
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    12. Jesse Tack & Jenny C. Aker, 2014. "Information, Mobile Telephony, and Traders' Search Behavior in Niger," American Journal of Agricultural Economics, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association, vol. 96(5), pages 1439-1454.
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