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How do farmers learn from extension services? Evidence from Malawi
Version 2 2023-06-07, 08:55
Version 1 2023-06-07, 07:41
journal contribution
posted on 2023-06-07, 08:55 authored by Annemie MaertensAnnemie Maertens, Hope Michelson, Vesall NouraniThough extension services have long since proved their value to agricultural production and farmer prosperity, their record in sub-Saharan Africa has been mixed. To study the impact of such programs on farmers' learning about agricultural technologies, we implemented a quasi-randomized controlled trial and collected detailed panel data among Malawian farmers. Based on those findings, we develop a two-stage learning framework, in which farmers formulate yield expectations before deciding on how much effort to invest in learning about these processes. Using data centered on farmer beliefs, knowledge, and constraints, we find evidence that beliefs about potential yields hinge on first-hand and local experience, and that these beliefs significantly impact learning efforts. Consistent with this, we find that farmers who participated in season-long, farmer-led demonstration plot cultivation plan to adopt more components of new multi-component technology, compared to farmers who were invited to attend only field-day events.
Funding
The Effect of Demonstration Plots and the Warehouse Receipt System on ISFM Adoption, yield and income of smallholder farmers: a study from Malawi’s farms; G1717; INTERNATIONAL INITIATIVE FOR IMPACT EVALUATION
History
Publication status
- Published
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- Published version
Journal
American Journal of Agricultural EconomicsISSN
0002-9092Publisher
WileyExternal DOI
Issue
2Volume
103Page range
569-595Department affiliated with
- Economics Publications
Full text available
- No
Peer reviewed?
- Yes
Legacy Posted Date
2020-08-05First Open Access (FOA) Date
2020-10-12First Compliant Deposit (FCD) Date
2020-08-04Usage metrics
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