The impact of demonstration plots on improved agricultural input purchase in Tanzania: Implications for policy and practice

In this paper, the authors use survey data from over 800 households to examine the impact of demonstration plots and associated activities (distribution of small packs of agricultural inputs) on smallholder farmers’ decisions to buy agricultural inputs in Tanzania. Using propensity score matching an...

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Main Authors: Sseguya, H., Robinson, D.S., Mwango, H.R., Flock, J.A., Manda, J., Abed, R., Mruma, S.O.
Format: Journal Article
Language:Inglés
Published: Public Library of Science 2021
Subjects:
Online Access:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/111261
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author Sseguya, H.
Robinson, D.S.
Mwango, H.R.
Flock, J.A.
Manda, J.
Abed, R.
Mruma, S.O.
author_browse Abed, R.
Flock, J.A.
Manda, J.
Mruma, S.O.
Mwango, H.R.
Robinson, D.S.
Sseguya, H.
author_facet Sseguya, H.
Robinson, D.S.
Mwango, H.R.
Flock, J.A.
Manda, J.
Abed, R.
Mruma, S.O.
author_sort Sseguya, H.
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description In this paper, the authors use survey data from over 800 households to examine the impact of demonstration plots and associated activities (distribution of small packs of agricultural inputs) on smallholder farmers’ decisions to buy agricultural inputs in Tanzania. Using propensity score matching and inverse probability-weighted adjustment models, the authors estimated the effect of access to demonstration plots alone and demonstration plots combined with small packs of agricultural inputs on a household’s decision to purchase improved inputs. The results indicate that access to demonstration plots and demonstration plots with small packs increased the probability of purchasing improved inputs by 13–17 percentage points. This paper suggests that demonstration plots and demonstration plots with small packs are an effective model for enhancing improved technology adoption and are further increased when those inputs are available within a 5km radius. The results point to the importance of strengthening farmers’ organizations and last-mile agricultural input suppliers in order to enhance and facilitate access to information, appropriate production techniques, and improved inputs. The results also indicate the importance of investing in infrastructure to reduce transportation costs that limit market efficiency for appropriate technologies.
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spelling CGSpace1112612023-12-08T19:36:04Z The impact of demonstration plots on improved agricultural input purchase in Tanzania: Implications for policy and practice Sseguya, H. Robinson, D.S. Mwango, H.R. Flock, J.A. Manda, J. Abed, R. Mruma, S.O. agricultural workers livestock agriculture farming systems intensification In this paper, the authors use survey data from over 800 households to examine the impact of demonstration plots and associated activities (distribution of small packs of agricultural inputs) on smallholder farmers’ decisions to buy agricultural inputs in Tanzania. Using propensity score matching and inverse probability-weighted adjustment models, the authors estimated the effect of access to demonstration plots alone and demonstration plots combined with small packs of agricultural inputs on a household’s decision to purchase improved inputs. The results indicate that access to demonstration plots and demonstration plots with small packs increased the probability of purchasing improved inputs by 13–17 percentage points. This paper suggests that demonstration plots and demonstration plots with small packs are an effective model for enhancing improved technology adoption and are further increased when those inputs are available within a 5km radius. The results point to the importance of strengthening farmers’ organizations and last-mile agricultural input suppliers in order to enhance and facilitate access to information, appropriate production techniques, and improved inputs. The results also indicate the importance of investing in infrastructure to reduce transportation costs that limit market efficiency for appropriate technologies. 2021-01-15 2021-02-11T18:32:01Z 2021-02-11T18:32:01Z Journal Article https://hdl.handle.net/10568/111261 en Open Access Public Library of Science Sseguya, H., Robinson, D.S., Mwango, H.R., Flock, J.A., Manda, J., Abed, R. and Mruma, S.O. 2021. The impact of demonstration plots on improved agricultural input purchase in Tanzania: Implications for policy and practice. PLOS ONE 16(1):e0243896.
spellingShingle agricultural workers
livestock
agriculture
farming systems
intensification
Sseguya, H.
Robinson, D.S.
Mwango, H.R.
Flock, J.A.
Manda, J.
Abed, R.
Mruma, S.O.
The impact of demonstration plots on improved agricultural input purchase in Tanzania: Implications for policy and practice
title The impact of demonstration plots on improved agricultural input purchase in Tanzania: Implications for policy and practice
title_full The impact of demonstration plots on improved agricultural input purchase in Tanzania: Implications for policy and practice
title_fullStr The impact of demonstration plots on improved agricultural input purchase in Tanzania: Implications for policy and practice
title_full_unstemmed The impact of demonstration plots on improved agricultural input purchase in Tanzania: Implications for policy and practice
title_short The impact of demonstration plots on improved agricultural input purchase in Tanzania: Implications for policy and practice
title_sort impact of demonstration plots on improved agricultural input purchase in tanzania implications for policy and practice
topic agricultural workers
livestock
agriculture
farming systems
intensification
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/111261
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