Experimental Design
Our intervention is information disseminated via a bundle containing a mobile application, a call center support service, and an SMS system. Two types of information are provided to potato farmers in one district of Punjab, Pakistan: information on (i) historical and current prices and (ii) buyers dealing with potatoes in wholesale markets. In one sub-sample, we also randomly vary the information potential buyers have about treated farmers. We test if this information allows farmers to make better bargains (prices and revenue) for their produce at harvest time. We also explore how the intervention changes the network of buyers for the farmer.
We will implement a cluster randomized control trial, with potato farmers in treated villages receiving the interventions. The intervention will be provided near harvest, with follow-up activities capturing data on actual sales.