An ex-post evaluation of agricultural extension programs for reducing fertilizer input in Shaanxi, China

It is difficult to control agricultural Non-point Source (NPS) pollution, caused by overusing of chemical fertilizer, through laws alone. An agricultural extension program is an alternative way to reduce fertilizer input. This paper estimates the average change in fertilizer use of farmers, which is...

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Main Authors: Hua, Chunlin, Woodward, Richard T., You, Liangzhi
Format: Journal Article
Language:Inglés
Published: MDPI 2017
Subjects:
Online Access:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/146335
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author Hua, Chunlin
Woodward, Richard T.
You, Liangzhi
author_browse Hua, Chunlin
Woodward, Richard T.
You, Liangzhi
author_facet Hua, Chunlin
Woodward, Richard T.
You, Liangzhi
author_sort Hua, Chunlin
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description It is difficult to control agricultural Non-point Source (NPS) pollution, caused by overusing of chemical fertilizer, through laws alone. An agricultural extension program is an alternative way to reduce fertilizer input. This paper estimates the average change in fertilizer use of farmers, which is attributable to their participation in the agricultural extension program. The Inverse-Probability Weighted matching method is used to evaluate the average treatment effect for the farmers who engaged in the program and, to a limited extent, evaluate the impact of individual elements of the program. Surprisingly, we find that farmer-to-farmer training may have had a counterproductive effect while the posters may be the most effective program element in reducing fertilizer use in the context.
format Journal Article
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spelling CGSpace1463352025-12-08T10:11:39Z An ex-post evaluation of agricultural extension programs for reducing fertilizer input in Shaanxi, China Hua, Chunlin Woodward, Richard T. You, Liangzhi participation extension programmes agricultural extension agricultural pollution probability analysis fertilizer application propensity score matching It is difficult to control agricultural Non-point Source (NPS) pollution, caused by overusing of chemical fertilizer, through laws alone. An agricultural extension program is an alternative way to reduce fertilizer input. This paper estimates the average change in fertilizer use of farmers, which is attributable to their participation in the agricultural extension program. The Inverse-Probability Weighted matching method is used to evaluate the average treatment effect for the farmers who engaged in the program and, to a limited extent, evaluate the impact of individual elements of the program. Surprisingly, we find that farmer-to-farmer training may have had a counterproductive effect while the posters may be the most effective program element in reducing fertilizer use in the context. 2017 2024-06-21T09:06:41Z 2024-06-21T09:06:41Z Journal Article https://hdl.handle.net/10568/146335 en Open Access MDPI Hua, Chunlin; Woodward, Richard T.; and You, Liangzhi. 2017. An ex-post evaluation of agricultural extension programs for reducing fertilizer input in Shaanxi, China. Sustainability 9(4): 566. https://doi.org/10.3390/su9040566
spellingShingle participation
extension programmes
agricultural extension
agricultural pollution
probability analysis
fertilizer application
propensity score matching
Hua, Chunlin
Woodward, Richard T.
You, Liangzhi
An ex-post evaluation of agricultural extension programs for reducing fertilizer input in Shaanxi, China
title An ex-post evaluation of agricultural extension programs for reducing fertilizer input in Shaanxi, China
title_full An ex-post evaluation of agricultural extension programs for reducing fertilizer input in Shaanxi, China
title_fullStr An ex-post evaluation of agricultural extension programs for reducing fertilizer input in Shaanxi, China
title_full_unstemmed An ex-post evaluation of agricultural extension programs for reducing fertilizer input in Shaanxi, China
title_short An ex-post evaluation of agricultural extension programs for reducing fertilizer input in Shaanxi, China
title_sort ex post evaluation of agricultural extension programs for reducing fertilizer input in shaanxi china
topic participation
extension programmes
agricultural extension
agricultural pollution
probability analysis
fertilizer application
propensity score matching
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/146335
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