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Field
Abstract
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Before
This study tests whether tailored extension approaches with and without the use of a digital advisory tool 'reflectometer' for plot-specific decision support can improve intrahousehold learning outcomes.
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After
The limited effects of soil fertility extension interventions in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) partly relate to the supply-driven extension approach of providing generalized advice across highly heterogeneous environments and limited learning platforms for in-depth extension officer-farmer interactions about soil health. In addition, there are gender concerns, as the traditional extension in SSA has also tended not to reach and benefit women farmers to the same degree as men farmers. Digital decision support tools are increasingly considered to better tailor extension services to farmer context and support learning. However, the evidence base on the effects of in-depth extension officer-farmer interactions about soil health with and without digitally-mediated tools, such as a low-cost, handheld tool ‘reflectometer’ for real-time diagnosis of soil organic carbon in extension programming is thin. In addition, the potential of tailored soil health extension in reducing intrahousehold gender gaps in learning and behavior remains an empirical question. In this study, we evaluate the impact of soil health extension approaches with and without the use of a reflectometer on intrahousehold gendered outcomes – i.e., changes in knowledge of soil health, farmer agency for and uptake of soil and agronomic management practices, and farm returns.
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