Opportunity as Waste? Market-Based Solution to Agricultural Fires

Last registered on April 14, 2026
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Pre-Trial

Trial Information

General Information

Title
Opportunity as Waste? Market-Based Solution to Agricultural Fires
RCT ID
AEARCTR-0018355
Initial registration date
April 13, 2026

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
April 14, 2026, 9:39 AM EDT

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

Locations

Country
Thailand
Region

Primary Investigator

Name
Nan Sandi
Affiliation
University of Exeter Business School
Contact Primary Investigator

Other Primary Investigator(s)

Additional Trial Information

Status
Completed
Start date
2023-03-15
End date
2024-12-30
Keywords
Agriculture, Environment & Energy
Additional Keywords
JEL code(s)
Q01, Q56, Q16, C93, Q53, Q18
Secondary IDs
Prior work
This trial does not extend or rely on any prior RCTs.
Abstract
Agricultural burning is a major source of greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution, yet it remains widespread in many low- and middle-income countries due to limited access to viable alternatives. This study examines whether a market-based intervention that relaxes key constraints can reduce agricultural burning among smallholder farmers. Using a randomized controlled trial with 1,024 farmers in Thailand, the study tests whether improving access to alternative markets for crop residues affects farmers’ decisions to burn or sell their residues.
External Link(s)

Registration Citation

Citation
Sandi , Nan . 2026. "Opportunity as Waste? Market-Based Solution to Agricultural Fires." AEA RCT Registry. April 14. https://doi.org/10.1257/rct.18355-1.0
Sponsors & Partners

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Experimental Details

Interventions

Intervention(s)
Agricultural burning is a major source of greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution, yet it remains widespread in many low- and middle-income countries due to limited access to viable alternatives. This study examines whether a market-based intervention that relaxes key constraints can reduce agricultural burning among smallholder farmers. Using a randomized controlled trial with 1,024 farmers in Thailand, the study tests whether facilitating access to an alternative market for crop residues—by lowering barriers to participation—affects farmers’ decisions to burn or sell their residues.
Intervention (Hidden)
The intervention provides smallholder farmers with vouchers that subsidize the rental cost of waste compression technology, which is necessary to collect, bale, and transport crop residues for sale in the biogas market. The subsidy is conditional on farmers selling their crop residues to a participating biogas power plant. Farmers in the control group did not receive vouchers.
Intervention Start Date
2023-10-01
Intervention End Date
2023-12-31

Primary Outcomes

Primary Outcomes (end points)
Crop residue burning
Primary Outcomes (explanation)

Secondary Outcomes

Secondary Outcomes (end points)
Secondary Outcomes (explanation)

Experimental Design

Experimental Design
The study uses a randomized controlled trial to test a market-based solution aimed at reducing agricultural burning among smallholder farmers. Participants are assigned to either a treatment group or a control group, with randomization conducted at the village level. The study sample consists of smallholder farmers across 64 villages. Outcomes are measured using a combination of survey data and high-resolution remotely sensed data. The design allows for the estimation of both direct treatment effects and potential spillover effects within local communities.
Experimental Design Details
Randomization Method
Randomization was conducted by a computer.
Randomization Unit
Randomization was at the village level.
Was the treatment clustered?
Yes

Experiment Characteristics

Sample size: planned number of clusters
64 villages
Sample size: planned number of observations
1024 farmers
Sample size (or number of clusters) by treatment arms
32 villages control, 32 villages treatment
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 Oxford
IRB Approval Date
2023-03-02
IRB Approval Number
SSH/BSG_C1A-23-04
Analysis Plan

Post-Trial

Post Trial Information

Study Withdrawal

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Intervention

Is the intervention completed?
Yes
Intervention Completion Date
December 31, 2023, 12:00 AM +00:00
Data Collection Complete
Yes
Data Collection Completion Date
January 31, 2024, 12:00 AM +00:00
Final Sample Size: Number of Clusters (Unit of Randomization)
64 villages
Was attrition correlated with treatment status?
No
Final Sample Size: Total Number of Observations
1024 farmers
Final Sample Size (or Number of Clusters) by Treatment Arms
32 villages control and 32 villages treatment
Data Publication

Data Publication

Is public data available?
No

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Program Files

Program Files
No
Reports, Papers & Other Materials

Relevant Paper(s)

Reports & Other Materials