Alem, Yonas () (Department of Economics, School of Business, Economics and Law, Göteborg University) Bezabih, Mintewab () (Department of Economics, University of Portsmouth, UK) Kassie, Menale () (Department of Economics, School of Business, Economics and Law, Göteborg University) Zikhali, Precious () (Department of Economics, School of Business, Economics and Law, Göteborg University)
Abstract
In this paper we use farmers' actual experiences with changes in rainfall levels and their responses to these changes to assess if patterns of fertilizer use are responsive to changes in rainfall patterns. Using plot and farm level panel data from the central Highlands of Ethiopia matched with corresponding village level rainfall data; results show that both the current year’s decision to adopt and the intensity of fertilizer adoption is positively associated with higher rainfall levels experienced in the previous year. Furthermore, we find a concave relationship between previous season rainfall levels and fertilizer adoption, indicating that too much rainfall discourages adoption. Abundant rainfall in the previous year could depict relaxed liquidity constraints and increased affordability of fertilizer, which makes rainfall availability critical in severely credit constrained environments. In light of similar existing literature, the major contribution of the study is its use of plot level panel data, which permits us to investigate the importance of plot characteristics in fertilizer adoption decisions.
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Publisher Info
Paper provided by Göteborg University, Department of Economics in its series Working Papers in Economics with number
337.
Length: 22 pages Date of creation: 05 Jan 2009 Date of revision: Handle: RePEc:hhs:gunwpe:0337
Contact details of provider: Postal: Department of Economics, School of Business, Economics and Law, Göteborg University Box 640, SE 405 30 GÖTEBORG, Sweden Phone: 031-773 10 00 Web page: http://www.handels.gu.se/econ/ More information through EDIRC
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