The Value of Value Chains: An Experiment Linking Farmers’ Cooperatives with a Maize Processor in Rwanda

Last registered on July 29, 2024
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Pre-Trial

Trial Information

General Information

Title
The Value of Value Chains: An Experiment Linking Farmers’ Cooperatives with a Maize Processor in Rwanda
RCT ID
AEARCTR-0013137
Initial registration date
July 19, 2024

Initial registration date is when the trial was registered.

It corresponds to when the registration was submitted to the Registry to be reviewed for publication.

First published
July 29, 2024, 4:27 PM EDT

First published corresponds to when the trial was first made public on the Registry after being reviewed.

Locations

Country
Rwanda
Region

Primary Investigator

Name
Jonathan Robinson
Affiliation
University of California, Santa Cruz
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Other Primary Investigator(s)

PI Name
Shilpa Aggarwal
PI Affiliation
Indian School of Business
Contact Investigator
PI Name
Susan Godlonton
PI Affiliation
Williams College
Contact Investigator
PI Name
Ammar Kawash
PI Affiliation
World Food Programme
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PI Name
Alan Spearot
PI Affiliation
University of California, Santa Cruz
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PI Name
Guanghong Xu
PI Affiliation
University of California, Santa Cruz
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Additional Trial Information

Status
On going
Start date
2021-07-01
End date
2025-09-01
Keywords
Agriculture
Additional Keywords
quality Upgrading, Market Access, Input Usage
JEL code(s)
O12, O13, Q12, Q13
Secondary IDs
Prior work
This trial does not extend or rely on any prior RCTs.
Abstract
The modernization of agriculture requires transitioning from subsistence farming to market-driven, commercial agriculture in which output is sold into value chains. However, smallholder farmers typically do not sell their output to buyers in value chains, instead selling output locally or using for own consumption. We conduct a randomized controlled trial with 180 smallholder farmer cooperatives in which we connect them to processors via the World Food Programmer's Farm to Market Alliance (FtMA) program. We evaluate effects on outcomes such as sales and revenue, as well as input usage and yields.
External Link(s)

Registration Citation

Citation
Aggarwal, Shilpa et al. 2024. "The Value of Value Chains: An Experiment Linking Farmers’ Cooperatives with a Maize Processor in Rwanda." AEA RCT Registry. July 29. https://doi.org/10.1257/rct.13137-1.0
Sponsors & Partners

Sponsors

Partner

Name
World Food Programme
Type
ngo
URL
https://www.wfp.org/farm-market-alliance
Experimental Details

Interventions

Intervention(s)
Intervention Start Date
2021-07-01
Intervention End Date
2025-09-01

Primary Outcomes

Primary Outcomes (end points)
revenue, sales, input usage, yield, land under cultivation
Primary Outcomes (explanation)

Secondary Outcomes

Secondary Outcomes (end points)
Secondary Outcomes (explanation)

Experimental Design

Experimental Design
We randomly assign cooperatives into a treatment and control group. Treatment cooperatives are invited to a buyers' meeting where they have the opportunity to meet and interact with various maize processors and large buyers. Cooperatives receive contact information and can choose to contract with one of these firms. The control group farms as usual.


Experimental Design Details
Not available
Randomization Method
randomization was done in office with a computer
Randomization Unit
cooperative
Was the treatment clustered?
No

Experiment Characteristics

Sample size: planned number of clusters
180 cooperatives
Sample size: planned number of observations
180 cooperatives
Sample size (or number of clusters) by treatment arms
90 treatment, 90 control
Minimum detectable effect size for main outcomes (accounting for sample design and clustering)
Supporting Documents and Materials
IRB

Institutional Review Boards (IRBs)

IRB Name
University of California, Santa Cruz (UCSC) IRB
IRB Approval Date
2021-04-08
IRB Approval Number
3745
IRB Name
Rwanda National Ethics Committee (RNEC)
IRB Approval Date
2020-02-05
IRB Approval Number
No.089 /RNEC/2020
Analysis Plan