Seeing is Believing? Evidence from an Extension Network Experiment

Extension services are a keystone of information diffusion in agriculture. This paper exploits a large randomized controlled trial to track diffusion of a new technique in the classic Training and Visit (T&V) extension model, relative to a more direct training model. In both control and treatment communities, contact farmers (CFs) serve as points-of-contacts between agents and other farmers. The intervention (Treatment) aims to address two pitfalls of the T&V model: i) infrequent extension agent visits, and ii) poor quality information. Treatment CFs receive a direct, centralized training. Control communities are exposed to the classic T&V model. Information diffusion was tracked through two nodes: from agents to CFs, and from CFs to others. Directly training CFs leads to large gains in information diffusion and adoption, and CFs learn by doing. Diffusion to others is limited: other males adopt the technique perceived as labor saving, with an effect size of 75 percent.

Bibliographic Details

Main Authors:	Kondylis, Florence, Mueller, Valerie, Zhu, Siyao
Format:	Policy Research Working Paper biblioteca
Language:	English en_US
Published:	World Bank Group, Washington, DC 2014-08
Subjects:	ADULT EDUCATION, AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT, AGRICULTURAL ECONOMICS, AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION, AGRICULTURAL INNOVATION, AGRICULTURAL KNOWLEDGE, AGRICULTURAL PRACTICES, AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION, AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTIVITY, AGRICULTURAL TECHNOLOGY, AGRICULTURE, AUDITS, BAMBOO, CASSAVA, CGIAR, CHEMICAL FERTILIZERS, COTTON, CROP, CROP ROTATION, CROPPING PATTERNS, CROPS, CULTIVATED LAND, CULTIVATION, CULTIVATION PRACTICES, CULTURAL CHANGE, DECENTRALIZATION, DEMAND FOR SERVICES, DEVELOPING COUNTRIES, DEVELOPMENT POLICY, DISSEMINATION, DISTRICTS, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, ECONOMIC GROWTH, EXTENSION, EXTENSION SERVICES, FALLOWING, FAO, FARM, FARM INCOME, FARMER, FARMERS, FARMING, FEMALE, FEMALES, FERTILIZER, FERTILIZERS, FOOD SECURITY, GENDER, GLOBAL DEVELOPMENT, GREEN REVOLUTION, HARVESTING, HECTARES OF LAND, HOUSEHOLD SURVEYS, HOUSEHOLDS, HOUSING, HUMAN CAPITAL, HUSBANDS, IFPRI, INTERCROPPING, INTERNATIONAL FOOD POLICY RESEARCH INSTITUTE, INTERVENTION, INTERVENTIONS, LAND MANAGEMENT, LIVELIHOODS, LOW-INCOME COUNTRIES, MAIZE, MARGINAL FARMERS, MINORITY, MULCHING, NATIONAL GOVERNMENT, NATIONAL PLAN, NEW TECHNOLOGIES, NGOS, NUMBER OF CHILDREN, OPINION LEADERS, PARTICIPATORY APPROACHES, PEACE, PEST MANAGEMENT, PLANTING, PLOWING, POLICY CONTROL, POLICY DISCUSSIONS, POLICY RESEARCH, POLICY RESEARCH WORKING PAPER, PRIMARY SCHOOL, PRIVATE SECTOR, PRODUCTION TECHNOLOGIES, PROGRESS, RURAL COMMUNITIES, SECONDARY EDUCATION, SEED, SESAME, SMALLHOLDERS, SOCIOLOGY, SOIL FERTILITY, SOIL QUALITY, SORGHUM, SPECIES, SPOUSE, STATE UNIVERSITY, SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT, T&V SYSTEM, TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, TILLAGE, TRAININGS, TRANSPORTATION, VEGETATION, VILLAGE LEVEL, VILLAGES, WEEDS, WOMAN, YIELDS,
Online Access:	http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/2014/08/20028274/seeing-believing-evidence-extension-network-experiment http://hdl.handle.net/10986/19393
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