journal article
Open Access
Dec 09, 2021
Knowledge and Adoption of Complex Agricultural Technologies: Evidence from an Extension Experiment
Abstract
Abstract
In most of Sub-Saharan Africa, agricultural extension models have become more decentralized and participatory and thus rely on effective farmer-to-farmer learning, while increasingly including nontraditional forms of education. At the same time, agricultural technologies become more complex and are now often promoted as integrated packages, which are likely to increase the complexity of the diffusion process. Based on a randomized controlled trial, this study assesses the effects of “farmer-to-farmer” extension and a video intervention on adoption of a complex technology package among 2,382 smallholders in Ethiopia. Both extension-only and extension combined with video increase adoption and knowledge of the package, especially of its more complex components; on average, however, the video intervention has no additional effect on adoption. Knowledge and the number of adopted practices also increase among farmers not actively participating in extension activities, which suggests information diffusion. For this group, the additional video intervention has a reinforcing effect, and particularly fosters adoption of the integrated package.
In most of Sub-Saharan Africa, agricultural extension models have become more decentralized and participatory and thus rely on effective farmer-to-farmer learning, while increasingly including nontraditional forms of education. At the same time, agricultural technologies become more complex and are now often promoted as integrated packages, which are likely to increase the complexity of the diffusion process. Based on a randomized controlled trial, this study assesses the effects of “farmer-to-farmer” extension and a video intervention on adoption of a complex technology package among 2,382 smallholders in Ethiopia. Both extension-only and extension combined with video increase adoption and knowledge of the package, especially of its more complex components; on average, however, the video intervention has no additional effect on adoption. Knowledge and the number of adopted practices also increase among farmers not actively participating in extension activities, which suggests information diffusion. For this group, the additional video intervention has a reinforcing effect, and particularly fosters adoption of the integrated package.
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Metrics
30
Citations
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References
Details
- Published
- Dec 09, 2021
- Vol/Issue
- 36(1)
- Pages
- 68-90
- License
- View
Authors
Funding
German Research Foundation
Award: RTG1666
Cite This Article
Denise Hörner, Adrien Bouguen, Markus Frölich, et al. (2021). Knowledge and Adoption of Complex Agricultural Technologies: Evidence from an Extension Experiment. The World Bank Economic Review, 36(1), 68-90. https://doi.org/10.1093/wber/lhab025
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