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Exploring technology use under climate risk and shocks through an experimental lens

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  • Holden, Stein T.
  • Westberg, Nina Bruvik

Abstract

Increasing agricultural productivity among smallholders in developing countries remains essential to improving food security, and one potential avenue for this increase is through stimulating technology adoption. In this paper we combine rainfall data with household survey and field experimental data to assess households’ use and potential demand for a risky agricultural input in Tigray, Ethiopia. More specifically, we explore how average rainfall, rainfall variability, lagged rainfall shocks and risk aversion relate to inorganic fertiliser use at the farm plot level. Further, we analyse how these variables and exogenous price variation affect the demand for inorganic fertiliser at the household level. The findings are potentially important for the design of policies to promote agricultural production in semi-arid rain-fed agricultural areas with vulnerable populations facing rainfall risk and shocks.

Suggested Citation

  • Holden, Stein T. & Westberg, Nina Bruvik, 2016. "Exploring technology use under climate risk and shocks through an experimental lens," African Journal of Agricultural and Resource Economics, African Association of Agricultural Economists, vol. 11(1), pages 1-16, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:ags:afjare:233848
    DOI: 10.22004/ag.econ.233848
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Esther Duflo & Michael Kremer & Jonathan Robinson, 2011. "Nudging Farmers to Use Fertilizer: Theory and Experimental Evidence from Kenya," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 101(6), pages 2350-2390, October.
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    Cited by:

    1. Araya, G.B. & Holden, S.T., 2018. "The Impact of Ethiopia s Productive Safety Net Program on Fertilizer Adoption by Small Holder Farmers in Tigray, Northern Ethiopia," 2018 Conference, July 28-August 2, 2018, Vancouver, British Columbia 277051, International Association of Agricultural Economists.
    2. Girmay Berhe Araya, 2020. "Impact of Ethiopia's productive safety net program on manure use by rural households: Evidence from Tigrai, Northern Ethiopia," Agricultural Economics, International Association of Agricultural Economists, vol. 51(5), pages 725-742, September.
    3. Hadush, Muuz, 2018. "Impact of improved animal feeding practice on milk production, consumption and animal market participation in Tigrai, Ethiopia," Problems of Agricultural Economics / Zagadnienia Ekonomiki Rolnej 276473, Institute of Agricultural and Food Economics - National Research Institute (IAFE-NRI).
    4. Muuz Hadush, 2021. "Does it pay to switch from free grazing to stall feeding? Impact of stall feeding practice on household welfare in Tigrai Ethiopia," Agricultural and Food Economics, Springer;Italian Society of Agricultural Economics (SIDEA), vol. 9(1), pages 1-29, December.
    5. Gebru, Menasbo & Holden, Stein T. & Tilahun, Mesfin, 2017. "Can the land rental market facilitate smallholder commercialization? Evidence from northern Ethiopia," CLTS Working Papers 10/17, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Centre for Land Tenure Studies, revised 21 Oct 2019.

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