Impact of Export Procedure Training on the Export Engagement : Evidence from Export Agricultural Crop Sector in Sri Lanka

Last registered on May 21, 2025
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Pre-Trial

Trial Information

General Information

Title
Impact of Export Procedure Training on the Export Engagement : Evidence from Export Agricultural Crop Sector in Sri Lanka
RCT ID
AEARCTR-0015947
Initial registration date
May 14, 2025

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
May 21, 2025, 2:26 PM EDT

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

Locations

Country
Sri Lanka
Region
Kandy and Gampaha Districts

Primary Investigator

Name
Charitha Priyadarshika
Affiliation
Hiroshima University
Contact Primary Investigator

Other Primary Investigator(s)

PI Name
Masaru Ichihashi
PI Affiliation
Graduate School of Humanities and Social Sciences, Hiroshima University
Contact Investigator

Additional Trial Information

Status
Completed
Start date
2024-02-07
End date
2024-10-15
Keywords
Firms & Productivity
Additional Keywords
Export performance, Export Business Aspirants
JEL code(s)
Secondary IDs
Prior work
This trial does not extend or rely on any prior RCTs.
Abstract
The agricultural sector is one of the main national export-earning sectors in Sri Lanka. It comprises export agricultural crops (EACs) and other agricultural crops. Spices are the majority among EACs in Sri Lanka. There is a high potential for expanding the export market for local EACs because of their unique aroma and flavor. It is a timely requirement for providing training on export procedures for increasing the export engagement of individuals and businesses. This study focuses on finding the impact of export procedure training on export engagement of export aspirants in the spice sector. A randomized controlled trial (RCT) was done with 314 export business aspirants who registered for the export procedure training program in February 2024. Baseline data (n = 314) were collected in late February and early March, followed by training programs on 7th and 12th March 2024. Changes in number of export buyers, of export scope and export volume (Kg are the three outcomes focused. Three follow up surveys were conducted at 1.5 months, 3 months and 6 months after the training. All the three outcomes were shown a statistically significant (95 CI) improvement in the treatment group after three months of post-survey. There was a sustained positive impact in export volume (Kg) at six months of post-survey while the effect of other outcomes were dissipated. At three months post- survey, this study underscores the pivotal role of export procedure training in enhancing the export performance of aspiring export businesses in Sri Lanka.
External Link(s)

Registration Citation

Citation
Ichihashi, Masaru and Charitha Priyadarshika. 2025. "Impact of Export Procedure Training on the Export Engagement : Evidence from Export Agricultural Crop Sector in Sri Lanka." AEA RCT Registry. May 21. https://doi.org/10.1257/rct.15947-1.0
Sponsors & Partners
Experimental Details

Interventions

Intervention(s)
This study focuses on finding the impact of export procedure training on export performance of export business aspirants in the export agricultural crop sector in Sri Lanka.
Intervention (Hidden)
A randomized controlled trial (RCT) was done with 314 export business aspirants who registered for the export procedure training program in February 2024. Baseline data (n = 314) were collected in late February and early March, followed by training programs on 7th and 12th March 2024. Changes in number of export buyers, of export scope and export volume (Kg) are the three outcomes focused. Three follow up surveys were conducted at 1.5 months, 3 months and 6 months after the training. The export procedure training program provided aspiring exporters in Sri Lanka with comprehensive knowledge and practical skills essential for entering international markets. Key topics included starting an export business, obtaining necessary licenses and registrations, identifying and engaging with export buyers, and understanding global demand—particularly for high-value spices such as black pepper, cinnamon, and turmeric. The training emphasized current consumer trends favoring organic and sustainably sourced products and highlighted support services offered by the Department of Export Agriculture and the Export Development Board. Participants also learned about export documentation, compliance, digital marketing, and building an online presence to effectively promote their products globally.
Intervention Start Date
2024-03-07
Intervention End Date
2024-03-12

Primary Outcomes

Primary Outcomes (end points)
1. Export engagement 2. Number of export buyers 3. Export volume (Kg)
Primary Outcomes (explanation)
Outcomes are selected to measure  mainly the export performance, including whether they followed the registration and documentation process, involve in internationalization of the business after intervention.1. Export engagement refers to the process by which entrepreneurs with existing local businesses and individuals aspiring to start export businesses transition into active participation in international trade.2. Number of foreign buyers identified in order to do exportThis outcome explains whether is the knowledge gained from the training programme applied and identify buyers and increase the exportation.3. Changes in export volume (Kg)This helps to realize whether there is a growth in exporting

Secondary Outcomes

Secondary Outcomes (end points)
Secondary Outcomes (explanation)

Experimental Design

Experimental Design
Randomized Control Trial (RCT) – This study focus awareness of export procedures and documentation for export business aspirants who planned to enter the export market in 2024. Then assess the export performance at three time intervals: one and a half months, three months and six months after the intervention. Outcomes were assessed in both treatment and control groups to find the causal inference.
Experimental Design Details
The training provided is the Export Procedures for Export Business Aspirants in the export agricultural crop sector in Sri Lanka. Export business aspirants are the individuals who already have a spice business and are willing to start a spice business in the year 2024. An advertisement was published in public and social media and disseminated through extension officers. It informed potential participants that the export procedure training program was scheduled to be held in the Kandy and Gampaha districts in March 2024. The notice also stated that if the number of registered individuals exceeded the capacity facilitated by the Department of Export Agriculture, participants would be selected through a lottery-based model by the department. This study is based on the randomized controlled design (RCT) and evaluates the impact of two districts of Sri Lanka, Kandy and Gampaha. A total of 416 individuals were registered for both Gampaha and Kandy (214) Districts (202). The enrolled individuals were randomly assigned into both treatment and control groups in each district separately. In both districts, 85 individuals per district were selected as the treatment group.  The remaining 129 individuals in Kandy district were allocated into the Kandy control group, while the remaining 117 in Gampaha district were allocated into the Gampaha control group. The training programmes were conducted on 7th March and 12th March 2024 in Kandy and Gampaha, respectively. Outcomes were measured before treatment and one and a half months after the intervention (first round of follow-up survey), three months (second round of follow-up survey), and six months post-survey (third round of follow-up survey) was done to measure the outcomes.
Randomization Method
Randomization was conducted through a lottery draw carried out by the Department of Export Agriculture to select 170 participants.
Randomization Unit
Export Agricultural Crop (EAC) sector export business aspirants who were registered for Export Procedure Training at the Department of Export Agriculture.
Was the treatment clustered?
No

Experiment Characteristics

Sample size: planned number of clusters
400 Export Business Aspirants
Sample size: planned number of observations
314 Export Business Aspirants
Sample size (or number of clusters) by treatment arms
146 export business aspirants training, 168 export business aspirants 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
Research Ethics Review Board, Hiroshima University, Japan
IRB Approval Date
2024-01-05
IRB Approval Number
HR-LPES-001532
Analysis Plan

Post-Trial

Post Trial Information

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Intervention

Is the intervention completed?
No
Data Collection Complete
Data Publication

Data Publication

Is public data available?
No

Program Files

Program Files
Reports, Papers & Other Materials

Relevant Paper(s)

Reports & Other Materials