Private Input Suppliers as Information Agents for Technology Adoption in Agriculture
American Economic Journal: Applied Economics
vol. 16,
no. 2, April 2024
(pp. 219-48)
Abstract
Information frictions limit the adoption of new agricultural technologies in developing countries. Efforts to improve learning involve spreading information from government agents to farmers. We show that when compared to this government approach, informing private input suppliers in India about a new seed variety increases farmer-level adoption by over 50 percent. Suppliers become more proactive in informing potential customers and carrying the new variety. They induce increased adoption by those with higher returns from the technology. Being motivated by expanded sales offers the most likely motive for these results.Citation
Dar, Manzoor H., Alain de Janvry, Kyle Emerick, Elisabeth Sadoulet, and Eleanor Wiseman. 2024. "Private Input Suppliers as Information Agents for Technology Adoption in Agriculture." American Economic Journal: Applied Economics, 16 (2): 219-48. DOI: 10.1257/app.20220037Additional Materials
JEL Classification
- D83 Search; Learning; Information and Knowledge; Communication; Belief; Unawareness
- L14 Transactional Relationships; Contracts and Reputation; Networks
- L33 Comparison of Public and Private Enterprises and Nonprofit Institutions; Privatization; Contracting Out
- O13 Economic Development: Agriculture; Natural Resources; Energy; Environment; Other Primary Products
- O32 Management of Technological Innovation and R&D
- Q12 Micro Analysis of Farm Firms, Farm Households, and Farm Input Markets
- Q16 Agricultural R&D; Agricultural Technology; Biofuels; Agricultural Extension Services
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