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The Role of Agricultural Market Information on Farmers' Agricultural Outcomes: Evidence from Smallholder Coffee Producers in Ethiopia

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  • Lee, Guenwoo
  • Suzuki, Aya
  • Kim, Yu Ri

Abstract

Using data from 466 smallholder coffee farmers in Ethiopia, this paper examines the effect of a public agricultural market information system (AMIS) on the farmers’ agricultural outcomes. Our findings confirm that providing market price information via the AMIS is positively related to coffee sales, the ratio of sales to production, and coffee income. In addition, we consider market heterogeneity by comparing two zones with different market characteristics. We find that the AMIS is positively associated with increasing coffee sales, the ratio of sales to production, and coffee income in only one zone with relatively lower market participation. On the contrary, the sales and income of AMIS users in the other zone with higher market participation did not increase although their selling price increased. While public information provision via ICT is more beneficial to underdeveloped markets, we suggest correcting other market imperfections is important to maximize the utility of AMISs.

Suggested Citation

  • Lee, Guenwoo & Suzuki, Aya & Kim, Yu Ri, 2021. "The Role of Agricultural Market Information on Farmers' Agricultural Outcomes: Evidence from Smallholder Coffee Producers in Ethiopia," Discussion paper series HIAS-E-110, Hitotsubashi Institute for Advanced Study, Hitotsubashi University.
    • Handle: RePEc:hit:hiasdp:hias-e-110
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Agricultural Market Information System; Coffee Farmer; Ethiopia; ICT4D; IPWRA;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D80 - Microeconomics - - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty - - - General
    • Q12 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Agriculture - - - Micro Analysis of Farm Firms, Farm Households, and Farm Input Markets

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