Can Agricultural Extension and Input Support Be Discontinued? Evidence from a Randomized Phaseout in Uganda

54 Pages Posted: 29 Jul 2019 Last revised: 18 Nov 2021

See all articles by Ram Fishman

Ram Fishman

George Washington University

Stephen C. Smith

George Washington University - Department of Economics

Vida Bobic

George Washington University

Munshi Sulaiman

BRAC-Africa

Abstract

Many development programs that attempt to disseminate improved technologies are limited in duration, either because of external funding constraints or an assumption of impact sustainability; but there is limited evidence on whether and when terminating such programs is efficient. We provide novel experimental evidence on the impacts of a randomized phase-out of an extension and subsidy program that promotes improved inputs and cultivation practices among smallholder women farmers in Uganda. We find that phase-out does not diminish the use of either practices or inputs, as farmers shift purchases from NGO-sponsored village-based supply networks to market sources. These results indicate short-term interventions can suffice to trigger persistent effects, consistent with models of technology adoption that emphasize learning from experience.

Keywords: agricultural extension, agricultural technology adoption, food security, supply chain, subsidies, randomized phaseout, high-yielding varieties, randomized controlled trial, Uganda

JEL Classification: O13, O33, I32, Q12

Suggested Citation

Fishman, Ram and Smith, Stephen C. and Bobic, Vida and Sulaiman, Munshi, Can Agricultural Extension and Input Support Be Discontinued? Evidence from a Randomized Phaseout in Uganda. IZA Discussion Paper No. 12476, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3427614

Ram Fishman (Contact Author)

George Washington University ( email )

Washington, D.C., DC
United States

Stephen C. Smith

George Washington University - Department of Economics ( email )

2115 G Street NW
306 Monroe Hall
Washington, DC 20052
United States

HOME PAGE: http://https://www2.gwu.edu/~iiep/about/faculty/ssmith/

Vida Bobic

George Washington University ( email )

2121 I Street NW
Washington, DC 20052
United States

Munshi Sulaiman

BRAC-Africa ( email )

Liberia

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