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Field
Abstract
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Before
Ensuring a disease-free environment is a key challenge in shrimp farming, which has consequences on the levels of shrimp production. For an export-oriented product like Bagda, this may subsequently have an impact on the levels of exports. In this study, we study whether different levels of monetary incentive in the form of a discount voucher can reshape farmers' behavior regarding the adoption of a disease-free (Specific Pathogen Free--SPF PL) shrimp post-larvae (PL). We also test whether it can influence the experience of shrimp mortality and disease-related monetary losses, overall mortality rate, total shrimp harvest, and farmers' food security situation. In a randomized controlled trial (RCT), we will distribute discount vouchers among shrimp farmers in southern Bangladesh. We use an open lottery for each farmer to be included in each treatment group.
First, we define the SPF-PL that is available at BDT 800 as type-A, and the SPF-PL that is available at BDT 1200 as type-B. We introduce treatment for both types of SPF-PL.
For type-A SPF-PL, we plan to distribute vouchers worth BDT 100 in treatment arm 1; and vouchers worth of BDT 50 in treatment arm 2. For type-B SPF-PL, we plan to distribute vouchers worth BDT 500 in treatment arm 3, BDT 400 in treatment arm 4, and BDT 200 in treatment arm 5. The rest of the farmers will be assigned to the control group. All the farmers will be provided with the same level of information on the technology and its source. The randomization is done at the individual level using a lottery for each individual farmer. The study will generate research and policy evidence on subsidy and technology adoption in agriculture and aquaculture space.
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After
Ensuring a disease-free environment is a key challenge in shrimp farming, which has consequences on the levels of shrimp production. For an export-oriented product like Bagda, this may subsequently have an impact on the levels of exports. In this study, we study whether different levels of monetary incentive in the form of a discount voucher can reshape farmers' behavior regarding the adoption of a disease-free (Specific Pathogen Free--SPF PL) shrimp post-larvae (PL). We also test whether it can influence the experience of shrimp mortality and disease-related monetary losses, overall mortality rate, total shrimp harvest, and farmers' food security situation. In a randomized controlled trial (RCT), we will distribute discount vouchers among shrimp farmers in southern Bangladesh. We use an open lottery for each farmer to be included in each treatment group.
Each farmer in the sample will receive a voucher for a range of discounts on one of two types of SPF-PL (Type A: sells at BDT 800 per 1,000 PL; Type B: sells at BDT 1,200 per 1,000 PL). Table 2 demonstrates the probable number of farmers by treatment group status. Treatment group 1 will receive a discount of BDT 100 for the type-A SPF-PL, while treatment group 2 will receive a discount of BDT 50 for the type-A SPF-PL. Treatment group 3, 4, 5 will receive a discount of BDT 500, BDT 400 and BDT 200, respectively, for the type-B SPF-PL.
A farmer will be allowed to redeem their voucher for a MAXIMUM of 16,000 units of SPF-PL following the suggestions provided by the DoF for an acre of pond. Each voucher can be redeemed only once. If the treated farmers want to buy more than 16 thousand SPF-PL, they will have to buy the rest of the SPF-PL beyond 16 thousand at the regular market price. Those who will not receive any discount voucher (group 6) will be the control group. All the farmers will be provided with the same level of information on the technology and its source. The randomization is done at the individual level using a lottery for each individual farmer. The study will generate research and policy evidence on subsidy and technology adoption in agriculture and aquaculture space.
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Field
Last Published
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Before
June 14, 2024 04:29 AM
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After
July 03, 2024 12:04 AM
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Field
Intervention (Public)
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Before
We will introduce discount vouchers for the shrimp farmers as the intervention. These vouchers will be distributed among randomly selected subsets of shrimp farmers so that they can purchase the specific pathogen-free (SPF) post-larvae (PL) to produce shrimp.
First, we define the SPF-PL that is available at BDT 800 per thousand as type-A, and the SPF-PL that is available at BDT 1200 per thousand as type-B. We introduce treatments for both types of SPF-PL. The intention is to make both types of SPF-PL available at least at the level of the price of "normal" (non-SPF) hatchery PL.
For type-A SPF-PL, we plan to distribute vouchers worth BDT 100 in treatment arm 1; and vouchers worth of BDT 50 in treatment arm 2. For type-B SPF-PL, we plan to distribute vouchers worth BDT 500 in treatment arm 3, BDT 400 in treatment arm 4, and BDT 200 in treatment arm 5. The rest of the farmers will be assigned to the control group. All the farmers will be provided with the same level of information on the technology and its source. The randomization is done at the individual level using a lottery for each individual farmer. Each individual farmer will be eligible to buy up to 16 thousand SPF-PL. The highest amount to be purchased is determined based on the recommended level of SPF-PL release on a 100-decimal pond.
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After
All the participant farmers in this study will receive one information card that will provide information on SPF-PL, its advantages in reducing white-spot disease in the pond, where to buy it from, and at what price. In this randomized control trial (RCT) , we will introduce discount vouchers at five different levels for shrimp farmers as the key intervention. These vouchers will be distributed among randomly selected subsets of shrimp farmers in July 2024 so that they can purchase the specific pathogen-free (SPF) Bagda post-larvae (PL) to produce shrimp on their own ponds. The vouchers will remain redeemable until September 30, 2024.
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Field
Experimental Design (Public)
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Before
The study will evaluate the impact of discount vouchers at different levels in the context of shrimp farming in the Southern region of Bangladesh. The International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), Michigan State University, WorldFish, and Alliance Bioversity-CIAT are collaborating on this experiment. This study will use a sample of shrimp farmers to conduct a randomized controlled trial (RCT).
There is an existing sample of 1222 shrimp farmers in the southern region of Bangladesh from a study conducted by the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI). IFPRI is conducting a second round of surveys from May 2024 to collect information on demographic characteristics, production, and farming practices. This survey is taking place in the comfort of the subject's home or farm. After this survey, discount vouchers will be distributed among randomly selected subsets of shrimp farmers so that they can purchase the specific pathogen-free (SPF) post-larvae (PL) to produce shrimp.
For type-A SPF-PL, we plan to distribute vouchers worth BDT 100 in treatment arm 1; and vouchers worth of BDT 50 in treatment arm 2. For type-B SPF-PL, we plan to distribute vouchers worth BDT 500 in treatment arm 3, BDT 400 in treatment arm 4, and BDT 200 in treatment arm 5. The rest of the farmers will be assigned to the control group. All the farmers will be provided with the same level of information on the technology and its source. The randomization is done at the individual level using a lottery for each individual farmer. The enumerators will conduct the lottery in front of the farmer to ensure transparency. Each individual farmer will be eligible to buy up to 16 thousand SPF-PL. The highest amount to be purchased is determined based on the recommended level of SPF-PL release on a 100-decimal pond.
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After
Our enumerator will visit each farmer and provide them with the information card. During the same visit, enumerators will conduct a lottery to distribute the vouchers. Each of the five types of vouchers has a unique number on the top--that is, the voucher for treatment group 1 is marked with the number 1, the voucher for treatment group 2 is marked with the number 2., and so on. The control group coupon is marked with 6, which will not provide any discount. However, the control group coupon mentions that the farmer can still buy the SPF-PL at the market price.
Each farmer will have an equal chance to receive one of the 5 discount vouchers that offer a monetary discount or one with no monetary discount. To decide which of these voucher cards he is qualified to receive, the enumerator will put these six tokens in an opaque bag and ask him/her to pick one of them randomly without looking at it. Each of these tokens has a number from 1 to 6. Whichever number the farmer will pick, the enumerator will give him/her the voucher with that number.
Each farmer in the sample will receive a voucher for a range of discounts on one of two types of SPF-PL (Type A: sells at BDT 800 per 1,000 PL; Type B: sells at BDT 1,200 per 1,000 PL). Treatment group 1 will receive a discount of BDT 100 for the type-A SPF-PL, while treatment group 2 will receive a discount of BDT 50 for the same type of SPF-PL. Treatment groups 3, 4, and 5 will receive a discount of BDT 500, BDT 400 and BDT 200, respectively, for the type-B SPF-PL. The control group will be those who will not receive any discount voucher (group 6).
A farmer will be allowed to redeem their voucher for a MAXIMUM of 16,000 units of SPF-PL following the suggestions provided by the DoF for an acre of pond. Each voucher can be redeemed only once. If the treated farmers want to buy more than 16 thousand SPF-PL, they will have to buy the rest of the SPF-PL beyond 16 thousand at the regular market price.
If the treated farmers want to buy more than 16 thousand SPF-PL, they will have to buy the rest of the SPF-PL beyond 16 thousand at the regular market price. The rest will be a control group. The exact monetary values of the discount vouchers are determined based on extensive field visits, price data from the previous rounds of surveys, and discussions with stakeholders. While other factors may work behind the decision to adopt, our randomized intervention will allow us to investigate the causal connection between the redemption of discount vouchers and the decision to adopt SPF-PL.
Desh Bangla Hatcheries, a leading producer and supplier of SPF-PL, will sell and deliver the SPF-PL to shrimp farmers using the discount amount written on the discount voucher. IFPRI, through the implementation partner Evaluation and Consulting Services Ltd. (ECONS), will bear the responsibility of paying the discounted amount to Desh Bangla at the agreed-upon interval.
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Field
Planned Number of Clusters
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Before
Clustered at the individual level
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After
Not applicable. The randomization is done at the individual level
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Field
Sample size (or number of clusters) by treatment arms
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Before
Based on the lottery at the individual level conducted by the enumerators during the visit, we expect to have approximately 200 shrimp farmers in each treatment arm.
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After
Based on the lottery at the individual level conducted by the enumerators during the visit, we expect to have approximately 200 shrimp farmers in each treatment arm for treatment groups 1 to 5 and the control group)
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