‘Mobile’izing Agricultural Advice: Technology Adoption, Diffusion, and Sustainability

67 Pages Posted: 23 Nov 2012 Last revised: 8 Jun 2020

See all articles by Shawn Allen Cole

Shawn Allen Cole

Harvard Business School

A. Fernando

University of Notre Dame - Department of Economics

Date Written: June 3, 2020

Abstract

Mobile phones promise to bring the ICT revolution to previously unconnected populations. A two- year study evaluates an innovative voice-based ICT advisory service for smallholder cotton farmers in India, demonstrating significant demand for, and trust in, new information. Farmers substantially alter their sources of information and consistently adopt inputs for cotton farming recommended by the service. Willingness to pay is, on average, less than the per-farmer cost of operating the service for our study, but likely exceeds the cost at scale. We do not find systematic evidence of gains in yields or profitability, suggesting the need for further research.

Keywords: Technology Adoption, Agricultural Extension, Informational Inefficiencies

JEL Classification: O12, O13, Q16

Suggested Citation

Cole, Shawn Allen and Fernando, A., ‘Mobile’izing Agricultural Advice: Technology Adoption, Diffusion, and Sustainability (June 3, 2020). Harvard Business School Finance Working Paper No. 13-047, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2179008 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2179008

Shawn Allen Cole (Contact Author)

Harvard Business School ( email )

Soldiers Field Road
Morgan 270C
Boston, MA 02163
United States

A. Fernando

University of Notre Dame - Department of Economics ( email )

Notre Dame, IN 46556
United States

HOME PAGE: http://www.nileshfernando.com

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