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How to Make Farming and Agricultural Extension More Nutrition- Sensitive: Evidence from a Randomized Controlled Trial in Kenya

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  • Ogutu, Sylvester
  • Fongar, Andrea
  • Gödecke, Theda
  • Jäckering, Lisa
  • Mwololo, Henry
  • Njuguna, Michael
  • Wollni, Meike
  • Qaim, Matin

Abstract

We analyze how agricultural extension can be made more effective in terms of increasing smallholder farmers’ adoption of pro-nutrition technologies, such as biofortified crops. In a randomized controlled trial with farmers in Western Kenya, we implemented several extension treatments and evaluated their effects on the adoption of beans that were biofortified with iron and zinc. Difference-in-difference estimates show that intensive agricultural training tailored to local conditions can increase technology adoption considerably. Within less than one year, adoption of biofortified beans increased from almost zero to more than 20%. Providing additional nutrition training further increased adoption by another 10-12 percentage points, as this has helped farmers to better appreciate the technology’s nutritional benefits. These results suggest that effective nutrition training through agricultural extension services is possible. Providing marketing training did not lead to additional adoption effects, although the study period may have been too short to measure these effects properly. This study is a first attempt to analyze how improved designs of agricultural extension can help to make smallholder farming more nutrition-sensitive. More research in this direction is needed.

Suggested Citation

  • Ogutu, Sylvester & Fongar, Andrea & Gödecke, Theda & Jäckering, Lisa & Mwololo, Henry & Njuguna, Michael & Wollni, Meike & Qaim, Matin, 2018. "How to Make Farming and Agricultural Extension More Nutrition- Sensitive: Evidence from a Randomized Controlled Trial in Kenya," GlobalFood Discussion Papers 266309, Georg-August-Universitaet Goettingen, GlobalFood, Department of Agricultural Economics and Rural Development.
    • Handle: RePEc:ags:gagfdp:266309
    DOI: 10.22004/ag.econ.266309
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    3. Sibhatu, Kibrom T. & Arslan, Aslihan & Zucchini, Emanuele, 2022. "The effect of agricultural programs on dietary diversity and food security: Insights from the smallholder productivity promotion program in Zambia," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 113(C).
    4. Sylvester O. Ogutu & Jonathan Mockshell & James Garrett & Ricardo Labarta & Thea Ritter & Edward Martey & Nedumaran Swamikannu & Elisabetta Gotor & Carolina Gonzalez, 2023. "Home gardens, household nutrition and income in rural farm households in Odisha, India," Journal of Agricultural Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 74(3), pages 744-763, September.
    5. Arslan, Cansın & Wollni, Meike & Oduol, Judith & Hughes, Karl, 2022. "Who communicates the information matters for technology adoption," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 158(C).
    6. Khonje, Makaiko G. & Nyondo, Christone & Mangisoni, Julius H. & Ricker-Gilbert, Jacob & Burke, William J. & Chadza, William & Muyanga, Milu, 2022. "Does subsidizing legume seeds improve farm productivity and nutrition in Malawi?," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 113(C).
    7. Junuthula, Shirisha & Kumari, Veenita & Srinivasan, Chittur, 2023. "Identification of Nutrition-Sensitive Agriculture (NSA) Knowledge Gaps in the Integration of Nutrition into Training by Agricultural Extension Advisory Services (EAS) Providers in India," 97th Annual Conference, March 27-29, 2023, Warwick University, Coventry, UK 334565, Agricultural Economics Society - AES.
    8. Cariappa, A G Adeeth & Chandel, B S & Sankhala, Gopal & Mani, Veena & R, Sendhil & Dixit, Anil Kumar & Meena, B S, 2022. "Anionic mineral mixture prevents milk fever and improves farmer income: evidence from a randomized controlled trial," Agricultural Economics Research Review, Agricultural Economics Research Association (India), vol. 35(1), June.
    9. Wei Yang & Jorie Knook, 2021. "Spatial evaluation of the impact of a climate change participatory extension programme on the uptake of soil management practices," Australian Journal of Agricultural and Resource Economics, Australian Agricultural and Resource Economics Society, vol. 65(3), pages 539-565, July.
    10. Ongudi, Silas & Thiam, Djiby, 2021. "The Direct and Indirect Effects of Income on the Consumption of Nutrients: Experimental Evidence from Kenya," 2021 Conference, August 17-31, 2021, Virtual 314956, International Association of Agricultural Economists.
    11. Jackering, L. & Fongar, A. & Godecke, T. & Mbugua, M. & Njuguna, M. & Ogutu, S. & Wollni, M., 2018. "Communication Networks and the Adoption of Technologies: Evidence from a Randomized Experiment," 2018 Conference, July 28-August 2, 2018, Vancouver, British Columbia 277540, International Association of Agricultural Economists.
    12. Asresu Yitayew & Awudu Abdulai & Yigezu A Yigezu, 2022. "Improved agricultural input delivery systems for enhancing technology adoption: evidence from a field experiment in Ethiopia [The impact of the use of new technologies on farmers’ wheat yield in Et," European Review of Agricultural Economics, Oxford University Press and the European Agricultural and Applied Economics Publications Foundation, vol. 49(3), pages 527-556.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Community/Rural/Urban Development; Food Security and Poverty; Institutional and Behavioral Economics; Research and Development/Tech Change/Emerging Technologies;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C93 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Design of Experiments - - - Field Experiments
    • O33 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Technological Change: Choices and Consequences; Diffusion Processes
    • 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
    • Q18 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Agriculture - - - Agricultural Policy; Food Policy; Animal Welfare Policy

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