We conduct a randomized controlled trial (RCT) evaluating the effectiveness of small-scale Kickstart irrigation pumps for low-income farmers. In 2015, Kickstart distributed 500 irrigation pumps to randomly selected poor rural households in Western Kenya, where an effort was made to specifically give the pump to female household members. The analysis described in this document focuses on the Intent to Treat (ITT) estimates, comparing those who received pumps to those who did not, with Treatment on the Treated (TOT) effects comparing those who actually used pumps vs. non-recipients are evaluated as a secondary outcome. The present document outlines the outcome variables and econometric methods we will use to assess the effect of the technology on agricultural income, time use, and investments in inputs along with measures of household consumption, food security, assests, income and enterprise activity, as well as domestic violence and the psychological well-being and empowerment of female household members.
We conduct a randomized controlled trial (RCT) evaluating the effectiveness of small-scale Kickstart irrigation pumps for low-income farmers. In 2015, Kickstart distributed 500 irrigation pumps to randomly selected poor rural households in Western Kenya, where an effort was made to specifically give the pump to female household members.
We survey participants in an endline survey after at least two agricultural seasons, and test whether the irrigation pumps improved income, asset holdings, food security, agricultural income, psychological health, female empowerment and domestic violence, and consumption.
Intervention Start Date
2015-06-01
Intervention End Date
2017-07-10
Primary Outcomes (end points)
Agricultural Income, Value of Assets Owned, Time Spent in Agriculture, Investment in Agricultural Inputs, Consumption, Psychological Health, Domestic Violence & Female Empowerment
Primary Outcomes (explanation)
See pre-analysis plan for detailed construction.
Secondary Outcomes (end points)
Secondary Outcomes (explanation)
Experimental Design
We conduct a randomized controlled
trial (RCT) evaluating the effectiveness of small-scale Kickstart irrigation
pumps for low-income farmers. In 2015, Kickstart distributed 500 irrigation
pumps to randomly selected poor rural households in Western Kenya, where
an effort was made to specifically give the pump to female household members.
Experimental Design Details
Randomization Method
Public Lottery
Randomization Unit
Individual
Was the treatment clustered?
No
Sample size: planned number of clusters
1000 Farmers
Sample size: planned number of observations
1000 Farmers
Sample size (or number of clusters) by treatment arms
500 Treatment, 500 Control
Minimum detectable effect size for main outcomes (accounting for sample design and clustering)