AUTHOR=Waje Samuel Semma , Shano Berhanu Kuma , Walelign Solomon Zena , Kassie Workineh Asmare 

TITLE=The effect of agricultural information provision on smallholders’ technology adoption and yield: experimental evidence from Ethiopia

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems

VOLUME=Volume 8 - 2024

YEAR=2024

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/sustainable-food-systems/articles/10.3389/fsufs.2024.1421442

DOI=10.3389/fsufs.2024.1421442

ISSN=2571-581X

ABSTRACT=Insufficient agricultural information has led smallholder farmers to rely on traditional agricultural farming technologies in Sub-Saharan African countries, resulting in low adoption of modern inputs and low yield. To address this, our study aimed to examine the effect of a randomized agricultural information provision on technology adoption and yield of cassava producers in Sodo Zuria, Offa, and Kindo Koysha Woredas in South Ethiopia. The study employed three related information interventions: (i) agronomic technical information, (ii) productivity and profitability information, and (iii) pooled information on both treatments. The study used panel data collected in two rounds from 1040 farmers. Agricultural information increases the adoption of modern agricultural technologies, land allocated to cassava, and yield. The provision of agricultural information is negatively related to access to media exposure, access to cell phones, and access to infrastructure while positively associated with participation in social groups, farm size, and farm income. Further policy research and evaluation are needed to assess the effectiveness of information intervention in different contexts and settings and factors that influence the improved cassava adoption and yield.