ShambaChat: an SMS platform for farmer-to-farmer extension

Last registered on August 30, 2021
View Trial History

Pre-Trial

Trial Information

General Information

Title
ShambaChat: an SMS platform for farmer-to-farmer extension
RCT ID
AEARCTR-0008161
Initial registration date
August 27, 2021

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
August 30, 2021, 5:25 PM EDT

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

Locations

Country
Tanzania, United Republic of
Region
Morogoro

Primary Investigator

Name
Aurelie Harou
Affiliation
McGill University
Contact Primary Investigator

Other Primary Investigator(s)

Additional Trial Information

Status
On going
Start date
2020-08-19
End date
2021-09-01
Keywords
Agriculture, Behavior, Education
Additional Keywords
JEL code(s)
Secondary IDs
Prior work
This trial is based on or builds upon one or more prior RCTs.
Abstract
Information constraints rank high among barriers to agricultural technology adoption. Demonstration plots, farmer-training schools, and farmer-to-farmer exchanges have proved effective tools for generating and sharing agricultural information, but many farmers face barriers to access due to high transportation and opportunity costs associated with in-person trainings, or the lack of such programs nearby. Information communication technologies (ICTs) are emerging to extend the reach of agricultural training, with high potential to deliver information through mobile and smartphones at little or no cost to farmers. In this study, we test the effectiveness of a digital platform, ShambaChat, that encourages peer learning among farmers in adopting a complex bundle of new practices that enhances soil fertility.
External Link(s)

Registration Citation

Citation
Harou, Aurelie. 2021. "ShambaChat: an SMS platform for farmer-to-farmer extension." AEA RCT Registry. August 30. https://doi.org/10.1257/rct.8161-1.0
Sponsors & Partners
Experimental Details

Interventions

Intervention(s)
Intervention Start Date
2020-09-01
Intervention End Date
2021-08-23

Primary Outcomes

Primary Outcomes (end points)
Learning/Knowledge
Adoption
Perceived self-efficacy
Yields
Organic input use
Compost
Text messages
Primary Outcomes (explanation)

Secondary Outcomes

Secondary Outcomes (end points)
Secondary Outcomes (explanation)

Experimental Design

Experimental Design
88 farmer chat groups with 5 members each were formed with 440 farms in 47 villages in Morogoro Rural, Tanzania. 34 groups are control farmers; 54 groups are treatment farmers.
Experimental Design Details
Randomization Method
Randomization done in office by a computer
Randomization Unit
Individual
Was the treatment clustered?
Yes

Experiment Characteristics

Sample size: planned number of clusters
88 farm chat groups
Sample size: planned number of observations
440 farmers
Sample size (or number of clusters) by treatment arms
270 treatment, 170 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
McGill Research Ethics Board
IRB Approval Date
2021-06-25
IRB Approval Number
16-0619
Analysis Plan

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