Abstract
ABSTRACT This article reports on a cluster-randomised controlled trial conducted in rural Burkina Faso evaluating a multifaceted intervention, SELEVER, that seeks to increase poultry production by delivering training and strengthening of village-level institutions providing veterinary and credit services. Households exposed to the intervention significantly increase their use of poultry inputs (veterinary services, enhanced feeds, and deworming), and report more poultry sold and higher revenue. However, there is no evidence of an increase in profits. This evidence is consistent with the hypothesis that the return to inputs may not be sufficient to counterbalance the market costs of these inputs.
Highlights
Recent debates in development in both research and policy have increasingly focused on the potential of increased production of livestock and in particular poultry as a sus-tainable strategy to reduce poverty for poor rural households (Rawlins et al, 2014; Miller et al, 2014; Jodlowski et al, 2016; Phadera et al, 2019; Gates, 2016; Blattman, 2017)
This article reports on a cluster-randomized controlled trial conducted in 120 villages in rural Burkina Faso evaluating a multifaceted intervention SELEVER (Soutenir l’Exploitation Familiale pour Lancer l’Elevage des Volailles et Valoriser l’Economie Rurale) that seeks to increase poultry production and improve the nutritional status of women and children, using an integrated strategy incorporating revenue generation, women’s empowerment, and nutritional behavioral change interventions (Gelli et al, 2017)
Poultry production is an important contributor to the agricultural economy of Burkina Faso, and it remains a major source of income and dietary inputs for large numbers of rural households (Gning, 2005)
Summary
Tainable strategy to reduce poverty for poor rural households (Rawlins et al, 2014; Miller et al, 2014; Jodlowski et al, 2016; Phadera et al, 2019; Gates, 2016; Blattman, 2017). Women’s role in poultry production can potentially enhance their status or control over resources within the household, and access to chicken and eggs can have significant benefits for maternal and child nutrition (Lutter et al, 2018) Given this evidence, understanding whether interventions targeting enhanced household poultry production can have positive effects on households’ economic welfare and women’s economic empowerment is an important research goal. Janzen et al (2018) analyze a randomized controlled trial in Nepal in which three arms received different combinations of asset transfer-related programming: an asset transfer of goats, the transfer in conjunction with training, or training only They find positive effects of all three treatments on financial inclusion and women’s empowerment but no effects on assets, expenditure, physical health and food security; there is no evidence of any differential effects comparing across treatments. That entail a significant cost — it seems extremely important to understand more about whether other potentially lower-cost strategies can be effective in increasing households’ engagement in livestock production and realizing the potential associated benefits in economic welfare
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