| Sumario: | This study investigates the preferences of rainfed farmers in West Africa for bundled
agroclimate services, addressing challenges posed by climate variability and limited
purchasing power. With various startups offering digital communication channels,
credit, and insurance services, farmers often struggle to afford individual services,
necessitating coherent service packages. The research aims to identify the most
preferred attributes of agroclimate services and predict how increasing climate
variability affects farmers' choices. Using a Choice Experiment and Mixed Logit
model, data was collected from 1,212 farmers across four West African countries
(Ghana, Senegal, Mali and Burkina Faso). The findings reveal that the most preferred
service bundle (Bundle 4), which includes daily weather forecasts, seed advisories,
and drought insurance, garnered a preference of 45%. In contrast, Bundle 0, which
lacks these features, was selected by only 22% of farmers. Notably, the introduction
of a USD 1,000 credit option increased the likelihood of selecting preferred bundles
by 39%. Additionally, 62% of farmers indicated that weather-based information is
a critical factor in their decision-making. Access to agricultural credit significantly
influenced choices, with a 17% increase in the likelihood of selecting preferred
bundles when credit was available. The study underscores the importance of
designing comprehensive service packages that cater to farmers' specific and
urgent needs. It highlights the necessity for partnerships among service providers
to improve the delivery of these essential services. By showing the agroclimate
service bundling power, the study provides valuable insights for policymakers and
stakeholders to support agricultural development and sustainability in West Africa
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