Hybrid agricultural extension and the adoption of climate-resilient varieties: Evidence from oil palm in the Amazon

Climate change is forcing farmers worldwide to adopt more resilient crop varieties, but optimizing the yields of these varieties often requires new farming practices. We study whether hybrid agricultural extension can increase farmers’ knowledge and adoption of key practices needed to maximize the productivity of a pathogen-resistant hybrid oil palm variety in the Ecuadorian Amazon. Using a randomized field experiment involving palm farmers in two provinces, we test the separate and joint effects of in-person field days and personalized digital nudges. We find that field days and digital nudges are substitutes for improving farmers’ knowledge but affect digital engagement differently: In-person training raises engagement with sequential learning content, while digital nudges increase attention to specific, actionable information. Crucially, only in-person training leads to significant adoption of pollination practices and increased hybrid palm area. Our findings highlight both the promise and limits of digital-only extension models for supporting the adoption of resilient crops and associated yield-enhancing practices.