Abstract
ABSTRACTPurpose: The impact of agricultural knowledge transfer (KT) is related to the access to and the quality of services available. Within this context, the allocation of resources in terms of KT offices and the number of advisers are important considerations for understanding KT impact. This quantitative study evaluates the impact of KT resources on farm profitability for clients in Ireland during the recessionary period 2008–2014.Design/Methodology: Teagasc, the public KT service provider in Ireland, experienced significant office closures (43%) and a reduction in advisers (38%) during the economic crisis, yet client numbers declined only slightly (4.5%). Administrative data are merged with a panel data set on farm-level performance to evaluate the impact through Random Effects estimation.Findings: The results show that clients gained a 12.3% benefit to their margin per hectare over the period. However, there was a negative effect of 0.2% for each additional client assigned to the adviser which averaged at 9.6%.Practical Implications: The quantitative findings provide a measure of impact that represents the value for money for the KT service. The key implication is that the client ratio for advisers should be considered when allocating resources and lower ratios would positively impact client margins.Theoretical Implications: This article outlines the value of quantitative studies to estimate impact in a clear translatable manner which can aid the policy discussion around resource deployment.Originality/Value: This study evaluates the impact of KT during a recessionary period when resources were constrained, and uses client ratios to examine the spatial effects.
Highlights
Knowledge transfer (KT) is a key aspect of agricultural sector policy delivered through public and private extension organisations
This is a key advantage of quantitative studies (Johnson and Onwuegbuzie 2004). It provides an interpretable indication of the impact of KT during this economically challenging period that can be incorporated to policy discussions for future resource deployment. This analysis measured the impact of KT services on farm level during a period of economic recession when the resources to deliver the services were restrained
By merging two data sets the impact of KT participation on farm level profitability and the impact of the organisational consolidation in terms of the increased ratio of clients per adviser could be tested through a random effects model
Summary
Knowledge transfer (KT) is a key aspect of agricultural sector policy delivered through public and private extension organisations. KT provision has the ability to diffuse best practice farm management and technologies to the agricultural sector (Tamini 2011). This occurs as a result of enhancing client capabilities through improved problem-solving skills, decision making and more effective farm management through an efficient KT service (Vanclay and Leach 2011). It is essential that the KT services operate efficiently to support the implementation of initiatives across a range of outcomes. Providing an efficient public agricultural advisory service is confronted with many challenges including fiscal obligations and the dependence on the broader policy environment (Anderson 2008). The service must represent ‘value for money’ to ensure its continued relevance and validity
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