Impacts of personalized picture-based crop advisories: Experimental evidence from India and Kenya

The rise of artificial intelligence (AI) has heightened interest in digital models to strengthen agricultural extension. Such tools could help provide personalized advisories tailored to a farmer's unique conditions at scale and at a low cost. This study evaluates the fundamental assumption that per...

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Main Authors: Ceballos, Francisco, Chugh, Aditi, Kramer, Berber
Format: Artículo preliminar
Language:Inglés
Published: International Food Policy Research Institute 2024
Subjects:
Online Access:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/169348
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author Ceballos, Francisco
Chugh, Aditi
Kramer, Berber
author_browse Ceballos, Francisco
Chugh, Aditi
Kramer, Berber
author_facet Ceballos, Francisco
Chugh, Aditi
Kramer, Berber
author_sort Ceballos, Francisco
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description The rise of artificial intelligence (AI) has heightened interest in digital models to strengthen agricultural extension. Such tools could help provide personalized advisories tailored to a farmer's unique conditions at scale and at a low cost. This study evaluates the fundamental assumption that personalized crop advisories are more effective than generic ones. By means of a large-scale randomized controlled trial (RCT), we assess the impact of personalized picture-based advisories on farmers’ perceptions, knowledge and adoption of recommended inputs and practices, and other downstream outcomes. We find that personalizing advisories does not significantly improve agricultural outcomes compared to generic ones. While farmers who engage relatively more with advisories (i.e., those who receive and read a substantial number of messages based on self-reports) tend to achieve better outcomes, this is irrespective of whether the advisories they receive are tailored to their specific situation or not. We conclude that investments in digital extension tools should aim to enhance engagement with advisories rather than focusing solely on personalization.
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publishDate 2024
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spelling CGSpace1693482025-12-02T21:02:52Z Impacts of personalized picture-based crop advisories: Experimental evidence from India and Kenya Ceballos, Francisco Chugh, Aditi Kramer, Berber agricultural extension artificial intelligence farmers inputs The rise of artificial intelligence (AI) has heightened interest in digital models to strengthen agricultural extension. Such tools could help provide personalized advisories tailored to a farmer's unique conditions at scale and at a low cost. This study evaluates the fundamental assumption that personalized crop advisories are more effective than generic ones. By means of a large-scale randomized controlled trial (RCT), we assess the impact of personalized picture-based advisories on farmers’ perceptions, knowledge and adoption of recommended inputs and practices, and other downstream outcomes. We find that personalizing advisories does not significantly improve agricultural outcomes compared to generic ones. While farmers who engage relatively more with advisories (i.e., those who receive and read a substantial number of messages based on self-reports) tend to achieve better outcomes, this is irrespective of whether the advisories they receive are tailored to their specific situation or not. We conclude that investments in digital extension tools should aim to enhance engagement with advisories rather than focusing solely on personalization. 2024-12-31 2025-01-17T16:08:45Z 2025-01-17T16:08:45Z Working Paper https://hdl.handle.net/10568/169348 en Open Access application/pdf International Food Policy Research Institute Ceballos, Francisco; Chugh, Aditi; and Kramer, Berber. 2024. Impacts of personalized picture-based crop advisories: Experimental evidence from India and Kenya. IFPRI Discussion Paper 2322. Washington, DC: International Food Policy Research Institute. https://hdl.handle.net/10568/169348
spellingShingle agricultural extension
artificial intelligence
farmers
inputs
Ceballos, Francisco
Chugh, Aditi
Kramer, Berber
Impacts of personalized picture-based crop advisories: Experimental evidence from India and Kenya
title Impacts of personalized picture-based crop advisories: Experimental evidence from India and Kenya
title_full Impacts of personalized picture-based crop advisories: Experimental evidence from India and Kenya
title_fullStr Impacts of personalized picture-based crop advisories: Experimental evidence from India and Kenya
title_full_unstemmed Impacts of personalized picture-based crop advisories: Experimental evidence from India and Kenya
title_short Impacts of personalized picture-based crop advisories: Experimental evidence from India and Kenya
title_sort impacts of personalized picture based crop advisories experimental evidence from india and kenya
topic agricultural extension
artificial intelligence
farmers
inputs
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/169348
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