Information delivery in times of crisis: Evaluating digitally-supported agricultural extension in Myanmar
Agricultural extension can have direct and important impacts on vulnerable populations, strengthening both rural livelihoods and urban food security through technology adoption and increased agricultural production. Digitally-supported extension utilizing mobile phones can be a cost-effective method...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Journal Article |
| Language: | Inglés |
| Published: |
Wiley
2025
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://hdl.handle.net/10568/176666 |
| _version_ | 1855525209268813824 |
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| author | Goeb, Joseph Maredia, Mywish K. Herrington, Caitlin L. Zu, A. Myint |
| author_browse | Goeb, Joseph Herrington, Caitlin L. Maredia, Mywish K. Zu, A. Myint |
| author_facet | Goeb, Joseph Maredia, Mywish K. Herrington, Caitlin L. Zu, A. Myint |
| author_sort | Goeb, Joseph |
| collection | Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace) |
| description | Agricultural extension can have direct and important impacts on vulnerable populations, strengthening both rural livelihoods and urban food security through technology adoption and increased agricultural production. Digitally-supported extension utilizing mobile phones can be a cost-effective method for delivering information to farmers. However, different digitally-supported extension delivery mechanisms may have differential impacts on farmer knowledge and behavior, especially (i) in the face of new and emergent threats to farm production, and (ii) in crises or violent conflict when trust in outside information is low and conventional extension channels are disrupted. We conducted a randomized controlled trial to evaluate two digitally-supported extension designs—direct SMS and a novel hybrid lead-farmer-supported SMS method—in delivering fall armyworm management guidance to maize farmers in Myanmar after a military coup. Both approaches improved farmer knowledge. There is suggestive evidence that the lead-farmer-supported group spent more on pesticides and hired labor compared to the control group and used pesticides more effectively in damage control than the SMS group. |
| format | Journal Article |
| id | CGSpace176666 |
| institution | CGIAR Consortium |
| language | Inglés |
| publishDate | 2025 |
| publishDateRange | 2025 |
| publishDateSort | 2025 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| publisherStr | Wiley |
| record_format | dspace |
| spelling | CGSpace1766662025-12-11T21:59:17Z Information delivery in times of crisis: Evaluating digitally-supported agricultural extension in Myanmar Goeb, Joseph Maredia, Mywish K. Herrington, Caitlin L. Zu, A. Myint agricultural extension food security livelihoods maize vulnerability conflicts Agricultural extension can have direct and important impacts on vulnerable populations, strengthening both rural livelihoods and urban food security through technology adoption and increased agricultural production. Digitally-supported extension utilizing mobile phones can be a cost-effective method for delivering information to farmers. However, different digitally-supported extension delivery mechanisms may have differential impacts on farmer knowledge and behavior, especially (i) in the face of new and emergent threats to farm production, and (ii) in crises or violent conflict when trust in outside information is low and conventional extension channels are disrupted. We conducted a randomized controlled trial to evaluate two digitally-supported extension designs—direct SMS and a novel hybrid lead-farmer-supported SMS method—in delivering fall armyworm management guidance to maize farmers in Myanmar after a military coup. Both approaches improved farmer knowledge. There is suggestive evidence that the lead-farmer-supported group spent more on pesticides and hired labor compared to the control group and used pesticides more effectively in damage control than the SMS group. 2025-11 2025-09-24T20:03:27Z 2025-09-24T20:03:27Z Journal Article https://hdl.handle.net/10568/176666 en Open Access Wiley Goeb, Joseph; Maredia, Mywish K.; Herrington, Caitlin L.; and Zu, A. Myint. 2025. Information delivery in times of crisis: Evaluating digitally-supported agricultural extension in Myanmar. Agricultural Economics 56(6): 1225-1240. https://doi.org/10.1111/agec.70058 |
| spellingShingle | agricultural extension food security livelihoods maize vulnerability conflicts Goeb, Joseph Maredia, Mywish K. Herrington, Caitlin L. Zu, A. Myint Information delivery in times of crisis: Evaluating digitally-supported agricultural extension in Myanmar |
| title | Information delivery in times of crisis: Evaluating digitally-supported agricultural extension in Myanmar |
| title_full | Information delivery in times of crisis: Evaluating digitally-supported agricultural extension in Myanmar |
| title_fullStr | Information delivery in times of crisis: Evaluating digitally-supported agricultural extension in Myanmar |
| title_full_unstemmed | Information delivery in times of crisis: Evaluating digitally-supported agricultural extension in Myanmar |
| title_short | Information delivery in times of crisis: Evaluating digitally-supported agricultural extension in Myanmar |
| title_sort | information delivery in times of crisis evaluating digitally supported agricultural extension in myanmar |
| topic | agricultural extension food security livelihoods maize vulnerability conflicts |
| url | https://hdl.handle.net/10568/176666 |
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