Abstract
Abstract Increasing agricultural productivity by promoting high-yielding and micronutrient-rich crop varieties has the potential to reduce poverty and malnutrition. However, getting these technologies into the hands of smallholders remains a challenge. This paper presents results from a randomised field experiment that uses rural primary schools as dissemination hubs for improved orange-fleshed sweet potato (OFSP) vines and nutrition information in rural Tanzania and Uganda. Two years after the initial vine distribution, we find that households in treatment villages are 21 percentage points more likely to report growing OFSP and 27 percentage points more likely to correctly state the nutritional benefits of OFSP compared to those in control villages. We also find up to 16 percentage point increase in the likelihood of OFSP consumption by children under 5 years of age in treatment villages compared to that in control villages. Furthermore, we find suggestive evidence that increased knowledge on the nutritional benefits of OFSP mediated up to a third of the total treatment effect on OFSP adoption and consumption. Our findings suggest that rural primary schools can be effective channels for promoting and accelerating the diffusion of micronutrient-rich crop varieties in rural areas.
Highlights
Improving agricultural productivity by promoting high-yielding and nutritious and improved crop varieties is key to reduce poverty and malnutrition (Conley and Udry, 2010; Dercon and Gollin, 2014; Diao, Hazell and Thurlow, 2010; Foster and Rosenzweig, 2010; Irz et al, 2001; Ligon and Sadoulet, 2018)
We find up to 16 percentage point increase in the likelihood of orange-fleshed sweet potato (OFSP) consumption by children under 5 years of age in treatment villages compared to those in control villages
We introduce a causal mediation analysis framework to quantify the contribution of nutrition knowledge to OFSP adoption and consumption
Summary
Improving agricultural productivity by promoting high-yielding and nutritious and improved crop varieties is key to reduce poverty and malnutrition (Conley and Udry, 2010; Dercon and Gollin, 2014; Diao, Hazell and Thurlow, 2010; Foster and Rosenzweig, 2010; Irz et al, 2001; Ligon and Sadoulet, 2018). This paper provides empirical evidence on the impact of a fast-track (FT) project, a pilot project that uses rural primary schools as dissemination channels of OFSP varieties and nutrition messages to smallholder farmers in rural Tanzania and Uganda. In these countries, most villages have access to public schools as primary school education is free.
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