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Heterogeneous effects of sustainable agriculture practices: micro-evidence from Malawi
journal contribution
posted on 2023-06-09, 20:52 authored by Giuseppe Maggio, Solomon AsfawAre the effects of sustainable agricultural practices heterogeneous across agro-ecology and wealth in Malawi? Would a wealth-enhancing policy be associated with increased effectiveness of these practices? Focusing on a nationally representative set of Malawian agricultural households, the article answers the above questions by employing plot-level panel data matched with a set of geo-referenced rainfall and temperature records. The findings suggest a positive correlation between aggregate yield and the adoption of organic fertilizer. A similar result holds for legume intercropping and for hybrid seeds, which are associated to reductions in yield volatility between the two waves. Nevertheless, these effects appear heterogeneous across the agro-ecological zone of adoption, since a reduced number of farmers in selected locations can improve yields through the adoption of these practices. Further exploration suggests that less wealthy households show higher returns when adopting hybrid seeds or legume intercropping. Wealthier households, in contrast, report high yield only when treated with technology-enhancing practices, such as organic fertilizers and soil erosion control measures.
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Publication status
- Published
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- Accepted version
Journal
Journal of African EconomiesISSN
0963-8024Publisher
Oxford University PressExternal DOI
Department affiliated with
- Geography Publications
Full text available
- Yes
Peer reviewed?
- Yes
Legacy Posted Date
2020-03-20First Open Access (FOA) Date
2022-03-13First Compliant Deposit (FCD) Date
2020-03-20Usage metrics
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