The impact of agricultural extension services in the context of a heavily subsidized input system: The case of Malawi

This paper aims to test this hypothesis and to contribute to better understanding of strategies to revitalize the agricultural extension system in Malawi. Specifically, it examines the interplay between the fertilizer subsidy and access to extension services, and their impact on farm productivity an...

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Main Authors: Ragasa, Catherine, Mazunda, John, Kadzamira, Mariam
Format: Artículo preliminar
Language:Inglés
Published: International Food Policy Research Institute 2016
Subjects:
Online Access:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/148443
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author Ragasa, Catherine
Mazunda, John
Kadzamira, Mariam
author_browse Kadzamira, Mariam
Mazunda, John
Ragasa, Catherine
author_facet Ragasa, Catherine
Mazunda, John
Kadzamira, Mariam
author_sort Ragasa, Catherine
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description This paper aims to test this hypothesis and to contribute to better understanding of strategies to revitalize the agricultural extension system in Malawi. Specifically, it examines the interplay between the fertilizer subsidy and access to extension services, and their impact on farm productivity and food security in Malawi. Results show that the fertilizer subsidy has inconsistent impact on farm productivity and food security; at the same time, access to agricultural advice was consistently insignificant in explaining farm productivity and food security. Further analysis, however, shows that when access to extension services is unpacked to include indicators of usefulness and farmers’ satisfaction, these indicators were statistically significant. Households who reported that they received very useful agricultural advice had greater productivity and greater food security than those who reported receiving advice that they considered not useful. This result implies the need to ensure the provision of relevant and useful agricultural advice to increase the likelihood of achieving agricultural development outcomes
format Artículo preliminar
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institution CGIAR Consortium
language Inglés
publishDate 2016
publishDateRange 2016
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spelling CGSpace1484432025-11-06T06:13:12Z The impact of agricultural extension services in the context of a heavily subsidized input system: The case of Malawi Ragasa, Catherine Mazunda, John Kadzamira, Mariam fertilizers extension services agricultural extension productivity subsidies food security This paper aims to test this hypothesis and to contribute to better understanding of strategies to revitalize the agricultural extension system in Malawi. Specifically, it examines the interplay between the fertilizer subsidy and access to extension services, and their impact on farm productivity and food security in Malawi. Results show that the fertilizer subsidy has inconsistent impact on farm productivity and food security; at the same time, access to agricultural advice was consistently insignificant in explaining farm productivity and food security. Further analysis, however, shows that when access to extension services is unpacked to include indicators of usefulness and farmers’ satisfaction, these indicators were statistically significant. Households who reported that they received very useful agricultural advice had greater productivity and greater food security than those who reported receiving advice that they considered not useful. This result implies the need to ensure the provision of relevant and useful agricultural advice to increase the likelihood of achieving agricultural development outcomes 2016-01-08 2024-06-21T09:24:42Z 2024-06-21T09:24:42Z Working Paper https://hdl.handle.net/10568/148443 en https://hdl.handle.net/10568/150399 Open Access application/pdf International Food Policy Research Institute Ragasa, Catherine; Mazunda, John; and Kadzandira, John. 2016. The impact of agricultural extension services in the context of a heavily subsidized input system: The case of Malawi. IFPRI Discussion Paper 1498. Washington, DC: International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI). https://hdl.handle.net/10568/148443
spellingShingle fertilizers
extension services
agricultural extension
productivity
subsidies
food security
Ragasa, Catherine
Mazunda, John
Kadzamira, Mariam
The impact of agricultural extension services in the context of a heavily subsidized input system: The case of Malawi
title The impact of agricultural extension services in the context of a heavily subsidized input system: The case of Malawi
title_full The impact of agricultural extension services in the context of a heavily subsidized input system: The case of Malawi
title_fullStr The impact of agricultural extension services in the context of a heavily subsidized input system: The case of Malawi
title_full_unstemmed The impact of agricultural extension services in the context of a heavily subsidized input system: The case of Malawi
title_short The impact of agricultural extension services in the context of a heavily subsidized input system: The case of Malawi
title_sort impact of agricultural extension services in the context of a heavily subsidized input system the case of malawi
topic fertilizers
extension services
agricultural extension
productivity
subsidies
food security
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/148443
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