Yield effects of tissue culture bananas in Kenya: accounting for selection bias and the role of complementary inputs

We analyse yield effects of tissue culture (TC) banana technology in the Kenyan small farm sector, using recent survey data and an endogenous switching regression approach. TC banana plantlets, which are free from pests and diseases, have been introduced in East Africa since the late 1990s. Although...

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Main Authors: Kabunga, N., Dubois, T., Qaim, M.
Format: Journal Article
Language:Inglés
Published: Wiley 2012
Subjects:
Online Access:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/77436
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author Kabunga, N.
Dubois, T.
Qaim, M.
author_browse Dubois, T.
Kabunga, N.
Qaim, M.
author_facet Kabunga, N.
Dubois, T.
Qaim, M.
author_sort Kabunga, N.
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description We analyse yield effects of tissue culture (TC) banana technology in the Kenyan small farm sector, using recent survey data and an endogenous switching regression approach. TC banana plantlets, which are free from pests and diseases, have been introduced in East Africa since the late 1990s. Although field experiments show significant yield advantages over traditional banana suckers, a rigorous assessment of impacts in farmers’ fields is still outstanding. A comparison of mean yield levels between TC adopters and non-adopters in our sample shows no significant difference. However, we find evidence of negative selection bias, indicating that farmers with lower than average yields are more likely to adopt TC. Controlling for this bias results in a positive and significant TC net yield gain of 7%. We also find that TC technology is more knowledge intensive and more responsive to irrigation than traditional bananas. Simulations show that improving access to irrigation could lift TC productivity gains to above 20%. The analytical approach developed and applied here and the finding of negative selection bias may also be relevant for the evaluation of other agricultural technologies.
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spelling CGSpace774362025-01-27T15:00:52Z Yield effects of tissue culture bananas in Kenya: accounting for selection bias and the role of complementary inputs Kabunga, N. Dubois, T. Qaim, M. adoption biotechnology impact productivity We analyse yield effects of tissue culture (TC) banana technology in the Kenyan small farm sector, using recent survey data and an endogenous switching regression approach. TC banana plantlets, which are free from pests and diseases, have been introduced in East Africa since the late 1990s. Although field experiments show significant yield advantages over traditional banana suckers, a rigorous assessment of impacts in farmers’ fields is still outstanding. A comparison of mean yield levels between TC adopters and non-adopters in our sample shows no significant difference. However, we find evidence of negative selection bias, indicating that farmers with lower than average yields are more likely to adopt TC. Controlling for this bias results in a positive and significant TC net yield gain of 7%. We also find that TC technology is more knowledge intensive and more responsive to irrigation than traditional bananas. Simulations show that improving access to irrigation could lift TC productivity gains to above 20%. The analytical approach developed and applied here and the finding of negative selection bias may also be relevant for the evaluation of other agricultural technologies. 2012-06 2016-10-27T08:30:44Z 2016-10-27T08:30:44Z Journal Article https://hdl.handle.net/10568/77436 en Limited Access Wiley Kabunga, N., Dubois, T. & Qaim, M. (2012). Yield effects of tissue culture bananas in Kenya: accounting for selection bias and the role of complementary inputs. Journal of Agricultural Economics, 63(2), 444-464.
spellingShingle adoption
biotechnology
impact
productivity
Kabunga, N.
Dubois, T.
Qaim, M.
Yield effects of tissue culture bananas in Kenya: accounting for selection bias and the role of complementary inputs
title Yield effects of tissue culture bananas in Kenya: accounting for selection bias and the role of complementary inputs
title_full Yield effects of tissue culture bananas in Kenya: accounting for selection bias and the role of complementary inputs
title_fullStr Yield effects of tissue culture bananas in Kenya: accounting for selection bias and the role of complementary inputs
title_full_unstemmed Yield effects of tissue culture bananas in Kenya: accounting for selection bias and the role of complementary inputs
title_short Yield effects of tissue culture bananas in Kenya: accounting for selection bias and the role of complementary inputs
title_sort yield effects of tissue culture bananas in kenya accounting for selection bias and the role of complementary inputs
topic adoption
biotechnology
impact
productivity
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/77436
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AT qaimm yieldeffectsoftissueculturebananasinkenyaaccountingforselectionbiasandtheroleofcomplementaryinputs