Training and seed production spillovers and technology adoption: The case of seed producer groups in Nepal

Abstract

AbstractRice farmers in developing countries are often vulnerable to drought which can drastically reduce yields. Stress‐tolerant rice varieties (STRVs) can mitigate this vulnerability, as can having a high seed replacement rate (SRR) and using best management practices (BMPs) in rice cultivation. However, access to high‐quality STRV seed is often limited. This article uses propensity‐score weighted regressions to estimate the spillover effects of seed producer groups (SPGs) in Nepal. It compares adoption rates of STRVs and BMPs, and the SRR of non‐member households in villages with SPGs and in villages adjacent to these compared to other control villages in the region. According to a range of results from weighted models, non‐members in SPG villages and adjacent villages are 24–32 percentage points more likely to have adopted an STRV compared to non‐members in control villages. Non‐members in SPG and adjacent villages have a higher SRR, and households in SPG villages are more likely to use some BMPs compared to non‐members in control villages. Results suggest that SPGs have the potential to improve the resilience of communities in the face of climate change.