TY  - RPRT
        AU  - Fishman, Ram
AU  - Smith, Stephen C.
AU  - Bobic, Vida
AU  - Sulaiman, Munshi
        TI  - Can Agricultural Extension and Input Support Be Discontinued? Evidence from a Randomized Phaseout in Uganda
        PY  - 2019/Jul/
        PB  - Institute of Labor Economics (IZA)
        CY  - Bonn
        T2  - IZA Discussion Paper
        IS  - 12476
        UR  - https://www.iza.org/publications/dp12476
        AB  - Many development programs that attempt to disseminate improved technologies are limited in duration, either because of external funding constraints or an assumption of impact sustainability; but there is limited evidence on whether and when terminating such programs is efficient. We provide novel experimental evidence on the impacts of a randomized phase-out of an extension and subsidy program that promotes improved inputs and cultivation practices among smallholder women farmers in Uganda. We find that phase-out does not diminish the use of either practices or inputs, as farmers shift purchases from NGO-sponsored village-based supply networks to market sources. These results indicate short-term interventions can suffice to trigger persistent effects, consistent with models of technology adoption that emphasize learning from experience.
        KW  - agricultural extension
KW  - agricultural technology adoption
KW  - food security
KW  - supply chain
KW  - subsidies
KW  - randomized phaseout
KW  - high-yielding varieties
KW  - randomized controlled trial
KW  - Uganda
        ER  -