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Dissemination of new agricultural technologies in Africa: making extension work

Last registered on July 19, 2017

Pre-Trial

Trial Information

General Information

Title
Dissemination of new agricultural technologies in Africa: making extension work
RCT ID
AEARCTR-0000403
Initial registration date
June 26, 2014

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
June 26, 2014, 12:16 PM EDT

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

Last updated
July 19, 2017, 8:12 AM EDT

Last updated is the most recent time when changes to the trial's registration were published.

Locations

Region

Primary Investigator

Affiliation
Paris School of Economics - INRA

Other Primary Investigator(s)

PI Affiliation
Paris School of Economics - INRA
PI Affiliation
Paris School of Economics - INRA
PI Affiliation
ICRAF
PI Affiliation
Makerere University
PI Affiliation
Makerere University

Additional Trial Information

Status
In development
Start date
2014-09-01
End date
2018-03-01
Secondary IDs
3ie OW4 1249
Abstract
The project analyzes the role of information dissemination regarding new technologies and more efficient agricultural practices, and the potential bottlenecks extension services might face in their role of bridging the distance between the research institutions and the local farmers. We consider an ICRAF program targeting dairy producers in Uganda. The farmer trainer (FT) program focuses on dissemination of a set of practices to improve animal feeds and use them more efficiently. EADD trains volunteer farmer trainers, who in turn train other farmers in the production and use of the high-value animal feeds and feeding practices.
This study is aimed at estimating the overall impact of EADD farmer Trainer approach, as well as analyzing the impact of different variations of the Farmer to Farmer (FTF) extension approach. Three program variations are considered (the details may be changed as the study unfolds): First, in order to account for beneficiary heterogeneity a variation on customization of extension advice will be conducted. Here it is proposed that selected FTs will be trained to conduct needs assessment with their trainees and help them build individual action plans, focusing their effort on technologies / practices that are more appropriate to them. The second experimental variation, aimed at improving the quality of the information, will establish linkages of FTs with extension professionals who can provide tutoring and expert advice to FTs and monitor their activities. Finally, the third variation will focus on increasing FT incentives. Here a tournament will be organized by which the local community whose milk production increases most will be rewarded by a significant gift and/or social recognition.
External Link(s)

Registration Citation

Citation
BEHAGHEL, Luc et al. 2017. "Dissemination of new agricultural technologies in Africa: making extension work." AEA RCT Registry. July 19. https://doi.org/10.1257/rct.403-2.0
Former Citation
BEHAGHEL, Luc et al. 2017. "Dissemination of new agricultural technologies in Africa: making extension work." AEA RCT Registry. July 19. https://www.socialscienceregistry.org/trials/403/history/19634
Sponsors & Partners

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Experimental Details

Interventions

Intervention(s)
The project analyzes the role of information dissemination regarding new technologies and more efficient agricultural practices, and the potential bottlenecks extension services might face in their role of bridging the distance between the research institutions and the local farmers. We consider an ICRAF program targeting dairy producers in Uganda. The farmer trainer (FT) program focuses on dissemination of a set of practices to improve animal feeds and use them more efficiently. EADD trains volunteer farmer trainers, who in turn train other farmers in the production and use of the high-value animal feeds and feeding practices.
This study is aimed at estimating the overall impact of EADD farmer Trainer approach, as well as analyzing the impact of different variations of the Farmer to Farmer (FTF) extension approach. Three program variations are considered (the details may be changed as the study unfolds): First, in order to account for beneficiary heterogeneity a variation on customization of extension advice will be conducted. Here it is proposed that selected FTs will be trained to conduct needs assessment with their trainees and help them build individual action plans, focusing their effort on technologies / practices that are more appropriate to them. The second experimental variation, aimed at improving the quality of the information, will establish linkages of FTs with extension professionals who can provide tutoring and expert advice to FTs and monitor their activities. Finally, the third variation will focus on increasing FT incentives. Here a tournament will be organized by which the local community whose milk production increases most will be rewarded by a significant gift and/or social recognition.
Intervention Start Date
2014-10-01
Intervention End Date
2017-10-01

Primary Outcomes

Primary Outcomes (end points)
Diffusion of feeding knowledge and skills;
Adoption of improved technologies and practices;
Increase in milk production and milk sale.
Primary Outcomes (explanation)

Secondary Outcomes

Secondary Outcomes (end points)
Secondary Outcomes (explanation)

Experimental Design

Experimental Design
The study takes advantage of an expansion of the farmer trainer program to 12 new sites in Uganda, starting from October 2014. The program is targeting to reach around 17.000 small holder farmers in rural area.
The sample consist to 3.400 farmers randomly selected among which, 600 will be farmer trainers. These 3.400 farmers will be randomly assigned to the three variations envisioned in the study (see abstract). The study is using a phase-in randomization as all the farmers should benefit to the program at the end of the intervention.
Experimental Design Details
Randomization Method
The final decision has not been made as it depends in particular on some operational details. Likely to be a mix of public lottery and randomization in office by a computer, dependending on whether one considers the main treatment and the three variations.
Randomization Unit
Randomization will take place at the community level (i.e. all the farmers that would be served by a given farmer trainer).
Was the treatment clustered?
Yes

Experiment Characteristics

Sample size: planned number of clusters
560 communities
Sample size: planned number of observations
3400 farmers
Sample size (or number of clusters) by treatment arms
180 controls, 380 treatment
3 variations randomized orthogonally among the 380 treatment (groups with 0, 1, 2 and 3 variations)
Minimum detectable effect size for main outcomes (accounting for sample design and clustering)
Minimum detectable effect of main treatment (overall farmer trainer program, irrespective of variations): increase by 21% of a standard deviation on milk production. (Two-sided test at 5% level, with 80% power, and intra-cluster coefficient equal to 0.24)
Supporting Documents and Materials

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IRB

Institutional Review Boards (IRBs)

IRB Name
J-PAL Europe IRB
IRB Approval Date
2013-02-21
IRB Approval Number
na

Post-Trial

Post Trial Information

Study Withdrawal

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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