Intervention(s)
In sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), where the population is rapidly increasing and arable land per capita is declining, enhancing agricultural productivity is critical for food security and poverty alleviation. One major challenge to crop production in the region is the very low use of chemical fertilizers. To address this challenge, a rice cultivation technique known as P-dipping has been gaining attention in recent years, as it requires minimal fertilizer application to significantly boosts rice yields, making it accessible for smallholder farmers with limited financial resources. P-dipping involves submerging rice seedlings in a mud slurry mixed with a small amount of Triple Super Phosphate (TSP) fertilizer before transplanting them. However, the underdeveloped fertilizer market in Africa, characterized by the unavailability of small fertilizer packages, may hinder the widespread adoption of this technology.
This study uses a randomized controlled trial (RCT) to evaluate: (1) the effectiveness of training in P-dipping, and (2) the impact of the sale of small packs of chemical fertilizer on the adoption of the P-dipping technique. The study was conducted in the Vakinankaratra region of Madagascar. This region is known for its soil phosphate deficiency, which makes P-dipping highly effective in this region. We partnered with one of country's largest agro-products distributors to produce and distribute small packs of TSP to retailers. Each pack, hereafter referred to as P-dipping bags, each containing 3 kg.
In designing our interventions, we consider that if the training is conducted in a given community, the training content are likely to be transferred from the training farmers to the non-training farmers, resulting in a phenomenon called information spillover. When spillover occurs, non-trained farmers also adopt the technology, and thus the effectiveness of training is likely to be underestimated when comparing trained and non-trained farmers within a training commune.
We also note that because P-Dipping is a newly developed technique, our evaluation is likely to face two challenges. First, an RCT design with two comparison groups (one trained and one control) may fail to assess the effectiveness of P-Dipping compared to other available yield-enhancing technology packages. In Madagascar, the most common technology packages are PAPRIZ techniques, which consist of the use of NPK, UREA, and crop establishment methods, and are being promoted in several regions, but have not yet achieved widespread adoption. Second, because fertilizer retailers are not familiar with the P-Dipping technique, they may find it difficult to explain the technique to farmers. If fertilizer retailers are not trained, it may limit the diffusion of P-Dipping after the training intervention.
Therefore, our interventions include:
1) To provide training on PAPRIZ techniques to rice farmers.
2) To provide training on P-Dipping techniques to rice farmers and selected fertilizer retailers.
3) To conduct sales experiment of small packs of TSP (P-Dipping packs).