Do grassroots interventions relax behavioural constraints and improve adoption of nutrition-sensitive food production systems?

In most developing countries, agricultural policies and programs are designed to promote productivity growth with modern inputs and technologies, and the success of these policies is measured primarily along the dimensions of technology adoption, with limited reference to the ancillary impacts on be...

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Main Authors: Alvi, Muzna, Ward, Patrick S., Makhija, Simrin, Spielman, David J.
Format: Journal Article
Language:Inglés
Published: Wiley 2024
Subjects:
Online Access:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/155146
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author Alvi, Muzna
Ward, Patrick S.
Makhija, Simrin
Spielman, David J.
author_browse Alvi, Muzna
Makhija, Simrin
Spielman, David J.
Ward, Patrick S.
author_facet Alvi, Muzna
Ward, Patrick S.
Makhija, Simrin
Spielman, David J.
author_sort Alvi, Muzna
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description In most developing countries, agricultural policies and programs are designed to promote productivity growth with modern inputs and technologies, and the success of these policies is measured primarily along the dimensions of technology adoption, with limited reference to the ancillary impacts on behavioural outcomes that may be a prerequisite to adoption. We test whether grassroots programs can additionally relax behavioural constraints, potentially enhancing the adoption of diversified production systems. In Odisha, India, using a series of laboratory‐in‐field experiments and survey instruments to elicit farmers' preferences for risk, agency and aspirations for themselves and their children, we find that respondents in villages where grassroots interventions were promoted showed significantly lower levels of risk aversion and higher aspirations for themselves and their children, along with improvements in production and consumption diversity. However, we do not find a mediating role of reduced risk aversion in improving direct program outcomes. Our results show that grassroots approaches are effective in inducing a shift towards changing production systems, and relaxing behavioural constraints, that can be leveraged over time to strengthen impacts.
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spelling CGSpace1551462024-12-11T17:36:05Z Do grassroots interventions relax behavioural constraints and improve adoption of nutrition-sensitive food production systems? Alvi, Muzna Ward, Patrick S. Makhija, Simrin Spielman, David J. consumption farmers food production production systems productivity grassroots organizations In most developing countries, agricultural policies and programs are designed to promote productivity growth with modern inputs and technologies, and the success of these policies is measured primarily along the dimensions of technology adoption, with limited reference to the ancillary impacts on behavioural outcomes that may be a prerequisite to adoption. We test whether grassroots programs can additionally relax behavioural constraints, potentially enhancing the adoption of diversified production systems. In Odisha, India, using a series of laboratory‐in‐field experiments and survey instruments to elicit farmers' preferences for risk, agency and aspirations for themselves and their children, we find that respondents in villages where grassroots interventions were promoted showed significantly lower levels of risk aversion and higher aspirations for themselves and their children, along with improvements in production and consumption diversity. However, we do not find a mediating role of reduced risk aversion in improving direct program outcomes. Our results show that grassroots approaches are effective in inducing a shift towards changing production systems, and relaxing behavioural constraints, that can be leveraged over time to strengthen impacts. 2024-01 2024-10-03T16:02:20Z 2024-10-03T16:02:20Z Journal Article https://hdl.handle.net/10568/155146 en Limited Access Wiley Alvi, Muzna; Ward, Patrick; Makhija, Simrin; and Spielman, David J. 2024. Do grassroots interventions relax behavioural constraints and improve adoption of nutrition-sensitive food production systems? Australian Journal of Agricultural and Resource Economics 68(1): 101-124. https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-8489.12535
spellingShingle consumption
farmers
food production
production systems
productivity
grassroots organizations
Alvi, Muzna
Ward, Patrick S.
Makhija, Simrin
Spielman, David J.
Do grassroots interventions relax behavioural constraints and improve adoption of nutrition-sensitive food production systems?
title Do grassroots interventions relax behavioural constraints and improve adoption of nutrition-sensitive food production systems?
title_full Do grassroots interventions relax behavioural constraints and improve adoption of nutrition-sensitive food production systems?
title_fullStr Do grassroots interventions relax behavioural constraints and improve adoption of nutrition-sensitive food production systems?
title_full_unstemmed Do grassroots interventions relax behavioural constraints and improve adoption of nutrition-sensitive food production systems?
title_short Do grassroots interventions relax behavioural constraints and improve adoption of nutrition-sensitive food production systems?
title_sort do grassroots interventions relax behavioural constraints and improve adoption of nutrition sensitive food production systems
topic consumption
farmers
food production
production systems
productivity
grassroots organizations
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/155146
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