This file is part of IDEAS, which uses RePEc data


[ Papers | Articles | Software | Books | Chapters | Authors | Institutions | JEL Classification | NEP reports | Search | New papers by email | Author registration | Rankings | Volunteers | FAQ | Blog | Help! ]

Improving Technology Adoption in Agriculture through Extension Services: Evidence from Uruguay

Author info | Abstract | Publisher info | Download info | Related research | Statistics
Author Info
Pedro Cerdan-Infantes () (Office of Evaluation and Oversight, Inter-American Development Bank, Washington, DC, USA)
Alessandro Maffioli () (Office of Strategic Planning and Development Effectiveness, Inter-American Development Bank, Washington, DC, USA)
Diego Ubfal () (Department of Economics, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA)

Additional information is available for the following registered author(s):

Abstract

This paper analyzes the impact of the ‘Farm Modernization and Development Program’ (PREDEG) on the technology uptake and productivity of Uruguayan farmers. Using a unique panel dataset, we combine propensity score matching techniques and fixed effects models to estimate the program’s impact. Although the results vary according to the crops, we find consistent evidence that the program increased the rate of adoption of certified varieties and the density of plantation. However, there is only limited evidence of its effects on productivity, mostly derived from helping producers to cope with an illness of peach orchards. Conversely, we find some indications of negative lagged productivity effects for apples, which might be related to a short term cost of transitioning to new varieties or technologies. While the evidence of the effects on yields is not definitive due to the limited timeframe of the evaluation, the results indicate that PREDEG services were useful for incentivizing the adoption of specific technologies, as well as for crop-specific technical assistance like plant health.

Download Info
To download:

If you experience problems downloading a file, check if you have the proper application to view it first. Information about this may be contained in the File-Format links below. In case of further problems read the IDEAS help page. Note that these files are not on the IDEAS site. Please be patient as the files may be large.

File URL: http://www.iadb.org/ove/GetDocument.aspx?DOCNUM=2191165&Cache=True
File Format: application/pdf
File Function:
Download Restriction: no

Publisher Info
Paper provided by Inter-American Development Bank, Office of Evaluation and Oversight (OVE) in its series OVE Working Papers with number 0309.

Download reference. The following formats are available: HTML (with abstract), plain text (with abstract), BibTeX, RIS (EndNote, RefMan, ProCite), ReDIF
Length: 37 pages
Date of creation: Oct 2009
Date of revision:
Handle: RePEc:idb:ovewps:0309

Contact details of provider:
Postal: 1300 New York Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20577
Phone: 202-623-1000
Email:
Web page: http://www.iadb.org/ove
More information through EDIRC

For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its listing, contact: (Luis Daniel Martinez).

Related research
Keywords: PREDEG; Uruguay; Agricultural Technology Transfer; Panel Data; Policy Evaluation;

Other versions of this item:

Find related papers by JEL classification:
Q12 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Agriculture - - - Micro Analysis of Farm Firms, Farm Households, and Farm Input Markets
Q16 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Agriculture - - - R&D; Agricultural Technology; Agricultural Extension Services
H43 - Public Economics - - Publicly Provided Goods - - - Project Evaluation; Social Discount Rate

This paper has been announced in the following NEP Reports:

References listed on IDEAS
Please report citation or reference errors to , or , if you are the registered author of the cited work, log in to your RePEc Author Service profile, click on "citations" and make appropriate adjustments.:
  1. Hanson, James C & Just, Richard E, 2001. " The Potential for Transition to Paid Extension: Some Guiding Economic Principles," American Journal of Agricultural Economics, American Agricultural Economics Association, vol. 83(3), pages 777-84, August. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
  2. Pablo Ibarraran & Miguel Sarzosa & Yuri Suarez Dillon Soares, 2008. "The Welfare Impacts of Local Investment Projects: Evidence from the Guatemala FIS," OVE Working Papers 0208, Inter-American Development Bank, Office of Evaluation and Oversight (OVE). [Downloadable!]
  3. José Miguel Benavente & Gustavo Crespi & Alessandro Maffioli, 2007. "Public Support to Firm-Level Innovation: An Evaluation of the FONTEC Program," OVE Working Papers 0507, Inter-American Development Bank, Office of Evaluation and Oversight (OVE). [Downloadable!]
  4. Luis Marcano & Inder J. Ruprah, 2009. "Does Technical Assistance Matter? An Impact Evaluation Approach to Estimate its Value Added," OVE Working Papers 0109, Inter-American Development Bank, Office of Evaluation and Oversight (OVE). [Downloadable!]
  5. Evenson, Robert E., 2001. "Economic impacts of agricultural research and extension," Handbook of Agricultural Economics, in: B. L. Gardner & G. C. Rausser (ed.), Handbook of Agricultural Economics, edition 1, volume 1, chapter 11, pages 573-628 Elsevier. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
  6. Bronwyn Hall & Alessandro Maffioli, 2008. "Evaluating the impact of technology development funds in emerging economies: evidence from Latin America," European Journal of Development Research, Taylor and Francis Journals, vol. 20(2), pages 172-198. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
    Other versions:
  7. Pavel Luengas & Inder J. Ruprah, 2009. "Should Central Banks Target Happiness? Evidence from Latin America," OVE Working Papers 0209, Inter-American Development Bank, Office of Evaluation and Oversight (OVE). [Downloadable!]
  8. Birkhaeuser, Dean & Evenson, Robert E & Feder, Gershon, 1991. "The Economic Impact of Agricultural Extension: A Review," Economic Development and Cultural Change, University of Chicago Press, vol. 39(3), pages 607-50, April.
    Other versions:
  9. Matias Mednik & Cesar M. Rodriguez & Inder J. Ruprah, 2008. "Hysteresis in Unemployment:Evidence from Latin America," OVE Working Papers 0408, Inter-American Development Bank, Office of Evaluation and Oversight (OVE). [Downloadable!]
  10. Inder J Ruprah & Luis T Marcano, 2007. "A Meta-Impact Evaluation of Social Housing Programs: The Chilean Case," OVE Working Papers 0207, Inter-American Development Bank, Office of Evaluation and Oversight (OVE). [Downloadable!]
  11. João Alberto De Negri & Mauro Borges Lemos & Fernanda De Negri, 2006. "The Impact of University Enterprise Incentive Program on the Performance and Technological Efforts of Brazilian Industrial Firms," OVE Working Papers 1306, Inter-American Development Bank, Office of Evaluation and Oversight (OVE). [Downloadable!]
  12. Boris Bravo & Horacio Cocchi & Daniel Solís, 2006. "Output Diversification Among Small-Scale Hillside Farmers In El Salvador," OVE Working Papers 1706, Inter-American Development Bank, Office of Evaluation and Oversight (OVE). [Downloadable!]
  13. Aigner, Dennis & Lovell, C. A. Knox & Schmidt, Peter, 1977. "Formulation and estimation of stochastic frontier production function models," Journal of Econometrics, Elsevier, vol. 6(1), pages 21-37, July. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
  14. Ebere Akobundu & Jeffrey Alwang & Albert Essel & George W. Norton & Abebayehu Tegene, 2004. "Does Extension Work? Impacts of a Program to Assist Limited-Resource Farmers in Virginia," Review of Agricultural Economics, American Agricultural Economics Association, vol. 26(3), pages 361-372, 09. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
  15. Godtland, Erin M & Sadoulet, Elisabeth & De Janvry, Alain & Murgai, Rinku & Ortiz, Oscar, 2004. "The Impact of Farmer Field Schools on Knowledge and Productivity: A Study of Potato Farmers in the Peruvian Andes," Economic Development and Cultural Change, University of Chicago Press, vol. 53(1), pages 63-92, October.
  16. Carolyn Heinrich & Marcelo Cabrol, 2005. "An Impact Evaluation of the National Student Scholarship Program in Argentina," OVE Working Papers 0605, Inter-American Development Bank, Office of Evaluation and Oversight (OVE). [Downloadable!]
  17. Fernando Lopez & Alessandro Maffioli, 2008. "Technology Adoption, Productivity and Specialization of Uruguayan Breeders: Evidence from an Impact Evaluation," OVE Working Papers 0708, Inter-American Development Bank, Office of Evaluation and Oversight (OVE). [Downloadable!]
  18. Maria Alzuá & Pablo Brassiolo, 2006. "The Impact of Training policies in Argentina: An Evaluation of Proyecto Joven," OVE Working Papers 1506, Inter-American Development Bank, Office of Evaluation and Oversight (OVE). [Downloadable!]
  19. Praneetvatakul, Suwanna & Waibel, Hermann, 2006. "The Impact Of Farmer Field Schools On Pesticide Use And Environment In Thailand," 46th Annual Conference, Giessen, Germany, October 4-6, 2006 14950, German Association of Agricultural Economists (GEWISOLA). [Downloadable!]
  20. Feder, Gershon & Murgai, Rinku & Quizon, Jaime B., 2003. "Sending farmers back to school - the impact of farmer field schools in Indonesia," Policy Research Working Paper Series 3022, The World Bank. [Downloadable!]
    Other versions:
Full references

Statistics
Access and download statistics

Did you know? There are over 21000 authors registered on RePEc Author Service.

This page was last updated on 2009-10-30.

This information is provided to you by IDEAS at the Department of Economics, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, University of Connecticut using RePEc data on a server sponsored by the Society for Economic Dynamics.