Does better information drive better seed choices? Experimental evidence from Kenya
Despite advances in hybrid maize performance in Kenya, many farmers continue planting varieties released over two decades ago. Farmer experimentation with and use of relatively newer hybrids is crucial to improve regional food security, especially amid the increasing pressures of climate change. Thi...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Preprint |
| Language: | Inglés |
| Published: |
Elsevier
2025
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://hdl.handle.net/10568/178121 |
| _version_ | 1855542153708568576 |
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| author | Ndegwa, Michael Bulinda, Collins Kariuki, Sarah Wairimu Donovan, Jason Rutsaert, Pieter Jaleta, Moti |
| author_browse | Bulinda, Collins Donovan, Jason Jaleta, Moti Kariuki, Sarah Wairimu Ndegwa, Michael Rutsaert, Pieter |
| author_facet | Ndegwa, Michael Bulinda, Collins Kariuki, Sarah Wairimu Donovan, Jason Rutsaert, Pieter Jaleta, Moti |
| author_sort | Ndegwa, Michael |
| collection | Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace) |
| description | Despite advances in hybrid maize performance in Kenya, many farmers continue planting varieties released over two decades ago. Farmer experimentation with and use of relatively newer hybrids is crucial to improve regional food security, especially amid the increasing pressures of climate change. This study uses a randomized controlled trial to assess the degree to which contextually relevant and product-specific performance information influences farmer seed choice. Farmers in the treatment group received yield data for ten hybrids grown by farmers in the previous growing season in their county, while those in the control group received placebo information unrelated to seed selection. The intervention tripled farmers' intent to buy top-performing hybrids (from 7% to 27%) and more than doubled actual purchases (from 5% to 13%). Stockouts prevented some intended purchases, but treated farmers were still more likely to choose these hybrids. This study highlights a critical gap: farmers tend to lack independent and credible up-todate information on seed performance. Investing in rigorous testing of currently available hybrids and improving how results are shared with farmers can help address this issue. Providing credible performance data can support better decision-making, speed up varietal turnover, and strengthen seed systems in Kenya and beyond. |
| format | Preprint |
| id | CGSpace178121 |
| institution | CGIAR Consortium |
| language | Inglés |
| publishDate | 2025 |
| publishDateRange | 2025 |
| publishDateSort | 2025 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| publisherStr | Elsevier |
| record_format | dspace |
| spelling | CGSpace1781212025-11-25T02:16:53Z Does better information drive better seed choices? Experimental evidence from Kenya Ndegwa, Michael Bulinda, Collins Kariuki, Sarah Wairimu Donovan, Jason Rutsaert, Pieter Jaleta, Moti maize varieties households decision making seed systems Despite advances in hybrid maize performance in Kenya, many farmers continue planting varieties released over two decades ago. Farmer experimentation with and use of relatively newer hybrids is crucial to improve regional food security, especially amid the increasing pressures of climate change. This study uses a randomized controlled trial to assess the degree to which contextually relevant and product-specific performance information influences farmer seed choice. Farmers in the treatment group received yield data for ten hybrids grown by farmers in the previous growing season in their county, while those in the control group received placebo information unrelated to seed selection. The intervention tripled farmers' intent to buy top-performing hybrids (from 7% to 27%) and more than doubled actual purchases (from 5% to 13%). Stockouts prevented some intended purchases, but treated farmers were still more likely to choose these hybrids. This study highlights a critical gap: farmers tend to lack independent and credible up-todate information on seed performance. Investing in rigorous testing of currently available hybrids and improving how results are shared with farmers can help address this issue. Providing credible performance data can support better decision-making, speed up varietal turnover, and strengthen seed systems in Kenya and beyond. 2025-09 2025-11-24T15:28:12Z 2025-11-24T15:28:12Z Preprint https://hdl.handle.net/10568/178121 en Open Access application/pdf Elsevier Ndegwa, M. K., Bulinda, C., Kariuki, S., Donovan, J., Rutsaert, P., & Jaleta, M. (2025). Does better information drive better seed choices? Experimental evidence from Kenya. Social Science Research Network (SSRN). https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.5416594 |
| spellingShingle | maize varieties households decision making seed systems Ndegwa, Michael Bulinda, Collins Kariuki, Sarah Wairimu Donovan, Jason Rutsaert, Pieter Jaleta, Moti Does better information drive better seed choices? Experimental evidence from Kenya |
| title | Does better information drive better seed choices? Experimental evidence from Kenya |
| title_full | Does better information drive better seed choices? Experimental evidence from Kenya |
| title_fullStr | Does better information drive better seed choices? Experimental evidence from Kenya |
| title_full_unstemmed | Does better information drive better seed choices? Experimental evidence from Kenya |
| title_short | Does better information drive better seed choices? Experimental evidence from Kenya |
| title_sort | does better information drive better seed choices experimental evidence from kenya |
| topic | maize varieties households decision making seed systems |
| url | https://hdl.handle.net/10568/178121 |
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