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Private Input Suppliers as Information Agents for Technology Adoption in Agriculture

Author

Listed:
  • Manzoor H. Dar
  • Alain de Janvry
  • Kyle Emerick
  • Elisabeth Sadoulet
  • Eleanor Wiseman

Abstract

Information frictions limit the adoption of new agricultural technologies in developing countries. Efforts to improve learning involve spreading information from government agents to farmers. We show that when compared to this government approach, informing private input suppliers in India about a new seed variety increases farmer-level adoption by over 50 percent. Suppliers become more proactive in informing potential customers and carrying the new variety. They induce increased adoption by those with higher returns from the technology. Being motivated by expanded sales offers the most likely motive for these results.

Suggested Citation

  • Manzoor H. Dar & Alain de Janvry & Kyle Emerick & Elisabeth Sadoulet & Eleanor Wiseman, 2024. "Private Input Suppliers as Information Agents for Technology Adoption in Agriculture," American Economic Journal: Applied Economics, American Economic Association, vol. 16(2), pages 219-248, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:aea:aejapp:v:16:y:2024:i:2:p:219-48
    DOI: 10.1257/app.20220037
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Osiemo, Jamleck & Sibiko, Kenneth Waluse & Ng'ang'a, Stanley Karanja & Notenbaert, An M.O., 2024. "Are dairy farmers willing to pay for improved forage varieties? Experimental evidence from Kenya," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 124(C).
    2. Aker, Jenny C. & Dillon, Brian & Welch, C. Jamilah, 2023. "Demand, supply and long-term adoption: Evidence from a storage technology in West Africa," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 165(C).
    3. de Janvry, Alain & Rao, Manaswini & Sadoulet, Elisabeth, 2025. "Seeding the seeds: Role of social structure in agricultural technology diffusion," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 236(C).
    4. Rutsaert, Pieter & Donovan, Jason & Murphy, Mike & Hoffmann, Vivian, 2024. "Farmer decision making for hybrid maize seed purchases: Effects of brand loyalty, price discounts and product information," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 218(C).
    5. repec:ags:aaea22:335821 is not listed on IDEAS
    6. Hope Michelson, 2025. "Navigating the Measurement Frontier: New Insights Into Small Farm Realities," Agricultural Economics, International Association of Agricultural Economists, vol. 56(3), pages 526-542, May.
    7. Solomon Balew & Erwin Bulte & Zewdu Abro & Menale Kassie, 2023. "Incentivizing and nudging farmers to spread information: Experimental evidence from Ethiopia," American Journal of Agricultural Economics, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 105(3), pages 994-1010, May.
    8. Grewer, Uwe & Kim, Dong-Hyuk & Waha, Katharina, 2024. "Too much, too soon? Early-maturing maize varieties as drought escape strategy in Malawi," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 129(C).
    9. Puerto, Sergio, 2023. "Agriculture, innovation, and development: What happens when new technology is not good enough?," 2023 Annual Meeting, July 23-25, Washington D.C. 335821, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association.

    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • D83 - Microeconomics - - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty - - - Search; Learning; Information and Knowledge; Communication; Belief; Unawareness
    • L14 - Industrial Organization - - Market Structure, Firm Strategy, and Market Performance - - - Transactional Relationships; Contracts and Reputation
    • L33 - Industrial Organization - - Nonprofit Organizations and Public Enterprise - - - Comparison of Public and Private Enterprise and Nonprofit Institutions; Privatization; Contracting Out
    • O13 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Agriculture; Natural Resources; Environment; Other Primary Products
    • O32 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Management of Technological Innovation and R&D
    • 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; Biofuels; Agricultural Extension Services

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