Accelerating technical change through ICT: Evidence from a video-mediated extension experiment in Ethiopia. (January 2023)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Abate, Gashaw T.; Bernard, Tanguy; Makhija, Simrin; Spielman, David J.
• Is Part Of: World development. Volume 161(2023)
• Publication Date: 2023-01
• Subjects: O13 -- Q12 -- Q16; Agricultural extension -- ICT -- Video-based extension -- Crop management -- Ethiopia; Economic history -- 1990- -- Periodicals; Economic assistance -- Developing countries -- Periodicals; 330.9
• DOI: 10.1016/j.worlddev.2022.106089
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0305-750X

Abstract

Highlights: A video-mediated extension approach introduced in Ethiopia increases technology uptake by improving extension access and farmer knowledge. While the video-mediated extension approach improves extension access and knowledge among female spouses, it does not lead to higher uptake rates. The video-mediated approach becomes less costly as the scale of operation increases. Abstract: Despite enthusiasm around applications of information and communications technologies (ICTs) to smallholder agriculture in many lower-income countries, there are still many questions on the effectiveness of ICT-based approaches. This study assesses the impacts of video-mediated agricultural extension service provision on farmers' adoption of improved agricultural technologies and practices in Ethiopia using data from a two-year randomized experiment. Our results show that the video-mediated extension approach significantly increases uptake of recommended technologies and practices by improving extension access and farmer knowledge. Specifically, we find that video-mediated extension reaches a wider audience than the government's conventional extension approach and leads to higher levels of farmer understanding and uptake of the subject technologies in those locations randomly assigned to the program. While our results also point to greater extension access and greater knowledge among female spouses in locations where both male and female spouses were targeted by the program, we do not find clear evidence that a more inclusive approach translates into higher uptake of the subject technologies. Finally, we find that the video-mediated approach becomes less costly as the scale of operation increases.