Papers by Franklin Simtowe
There is exhaustive literature on technology adoption rates and the relationship between technolo... more There is exhaustive literature on technology adoption rates and the relationship between technology adoption and relevant socioeconomic and policy variables. Yet adoption estimates derived from the application of standard techniques such as the probit and tobit yield biased estimates. This paper applies the modern evaluation technique: the counterfactual outcome framework to data from about 400 households in Malawi to assess the patterns of diffusion and adoption of improved pigeonpea varieties and their determinants. We find the sample adoption rate of improved varieties to be 14 % while the potential adoption rate if the improved varieties were widely disseminated is estimated at 41 %. The adoption gap resulting from the incomplete exposure to the improved pigeonpea is 27 %. Moreover, adoption is also found to be high among female-headed households, older farmers and those with access to credit. The findings suggest that for increased adoption, there is need for increased involvement of extension workers is the dissemination of information about improved pigeonpea varieties, a robust pigeonpea seed system to increase seed availability to farmers as well as the need for improved access to credit.
Smallholder supply chain participation remains low despite the potential welfare gains that would... more Smallholder supply chain participation remains low despite the potential welfare gains that would result from choosing a market-oriented production. Yet, studies on determinants of market participation for commodities with underdeveloped value chains are scanty. Employing a double-hurdle model, this paper examines factors determining house-holds' participation in cavy marketing among cavy farmers from Sud-Kivu province in the Democratic Republic of Congo. We find that wealthier households participated less in cavy marketing while those producing more cavies were more likely to participate in their marketing. Moreover, smaller households tended to sell more cavies, while households with other livestock sold fewer cavies. The findings underscore the significance of increasing the participation in the cavy supply chains by farmers through the promotion of appropriate husbandry practices that enhance cavy productivity and production and that enable farmers to participate in markets as sellers.
Journal of Applied Sciences, 2006
This study investigates the linkage between attitudes towards risk and adoption. We empirically e... more This study investigates the linkage between attitudes towards risk and adoption. We empirically examine the relative risk premium related to fertilizer-use among 404 farmers from Malawi and examine the relationship between risk aversion on fertilizer-use and the adoption of hybrid maize. Results show that Malawian farmers exhibit absolute Arrow-Pratt risk aversion towards the use of fertilizer. The findings also reveal
Despite the potential in meeting its food requirements Tanzania remains a net importer of food. T... more Despite the potential in meeting its food requirements Tanzania remains a net importer of food. This is exacerbated by low agricultural productivity among Tanzanian farmers which is primarily fuelled by low adoption of productivity enhancing technologies such as the use of fertilizer and improved seeds. Fertilizer consumption among smallholder farmers in Tanzania remains low on the backdrop of nutrient depletion which is estimated at five times high than annual replenishment rate. This underscores the need for more efforts to improve smallholder farmers’ adoption of productivity enhancing technologies and improve both productivity and soil health.
The sub-optimal use of fertilizer is attributed to both supply side (non-availability of fertilizer) as well as demand side (eg high prices, lack of awareness of the recommended application rates, ignorance about the potential benefits from optimal application of fertilizer) constraints, both of which can be addressed by an appropriate mix of policy and regulatory framework and enforcement mechanisms. This paper presents findings from an assessment of the fertilizer policy and regulatory environment in Tanzania. Although Tanzania has a consistent set of policies and strategies for agriculture and rural development that reflect the importance of the sector in the nation’s development aspirations the assessment found some gaps in the fertilizer policy and regulatory environment especially in their enforcement
This paper presents findings from an assessment of the policy and regulatory environment for fert... more This paper presents findings from an assessment of the policy and regulatory environment for fertilizers in Malawi.Despite the significance of agriculture to Malawi’s economy, Malawi’s agriculture continues to be characterised by a smallholder farming orientation, with low productivity and high dependency on rain fed agricultural systems. An important component of the causes of low agricultural productivity in Malawi is the low use and adoption of productivity enhancing new technologies such as in organic fertilizers. Fertilizer use rate very low among smallholder farmers while the annual nutrient depletion rate is very high. This sub-optimal use of fertilizer is attributed to both supply side (non-availability of fertilizer) as well as demand side (e.g. high prices, lack of awareness of the recommended application rates, ignorance about the potential benefits from optimal application of fertilizer) constraints, both of which can be addressed by an appropriate blend of policy and regulatory framework as well as an efficient policy and regulatory and enforcement mechanism. This paper presents findings from a critical review of the fertilizer policy and regulatory environment in Malawi. Malawi has a consistent set of policies and strategies for agriculture and rural development that reflect the importance of the sector in the nation’s development aspirations but there are serious gaps in the fertilizer policy, the legal and regulatory frameworks as well as capacity for the enforcement of fertilizer regulations and standards.
This paper presents findings from an assessment of the policy and regulatory environment for fert... more This paper presents findings from an assessment of the policy and regulatory environment for fertilizers in Mozambique. Fertilizer consumption remains low among smallholder farmer in Mozambique as compared to the commercial agricultural sector which is largely driven by cash crops such as tobacco, cotton, and sugarcane. Subsequently average yields on staple crop crops such as maize remain low among smallholder farmers. Empirical evidence suggests that the sub-optimal use of fertilizer in the country is a result of both supply and demand side constraints. On the supply side, it has been observed that fertilizer is not readily available in rural areas and when available it is usually too expensive for the rural farmer. Transaction costs resulting from port inefficiencies (poor handling, bagging, stitching) high road transport costs and VAT of 2.5% together accounts for about 50% of the fertilizer farm gate price. Compared to other coastal countries in Africa, fertilizer costs are relatively high in Mozambique due to low supply and poor distribution mechanisms. The small concentration of fertilizer importers and wholesaler’s exacerbates the situation.
On the demand side, access to finance remains low among farmers and agrodealers. In order to improve small holder farmers’ access to fertilizers, the government of Mozambique in collaboration with the European Union, the Ministry of Agriculture, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, and the International Soil Fertility and Agricultural Development Centre (IFDC), implemented a pilot voucher-based fertilizer and seed subsidy program targeting 25,000 smallholder farmers. Access to fertilizer is necessary but not sufficient in increasing productivity. Equally important is the proper and efficient use of the fertilizers. Unfortunately, most farmers in Mozambique have limited access to agricultural extension services including information on fertilizer recommendations and general soil fertility management practices. According to IFPRI (2013) only about 10-15% of the farmers in Mozambique have access to agricultural extension services. The potential in increasing productivity lies in the farmers’ access to productivity enhancing technologies such quality fertilizer and complementary inputs as improved seeds coupled with good crop husbandry practices.
Despite Ethiopia’s resource endowment to produce sufficient food for domestic consumption and exp... more Despite Ethiopia’s resource endowment to produce sufficient food for domestic consumption and export, it remains a net importer of basic food items. Ethiopia’s agricultural sector is dominated by smallholder farming with low productivity and high dependency on rain fed agricultural systems. An important component of the causes of low agricultural productivity in Ethiopia is the low use and adoption of productivity enhancing technologies such as improved seed varieties and fertilizers. Fertilizer use rate in Ethiopia is very low among smallholder farmers while the annual nutrient depletion rate is very high. This sub-optimal use of fertilizer is attributed to both supply side (non-availability of fertilizer) as well as demand side (e.g. high prices, lack of awareness of the recommended application rates, ignorance about the potential benefits from optimal application of fertilizer) constraints, both of which can be addressed by an appropriate mix of policy and regulatory framework and enforcement mechanism. This paper presents findings from an assessment of the fertilizer policy and regulatory environment in Ethiopia.
There is exhaustive literature on technology adoption rates and the relationship between technolo... more There is exhaustive literature on technology adoption rates and the relationship between technology adoption and relevant socioeconomic and policy variables. Yet adoption estimates derived from the application of standard techniques such as the probit and tobit yield biased estimates. This paper applies the modern evaluation technique: the counterfactual outcome framework to data from about 400 households in Malawi to assess the patterns of diffusion and adoption of improved pigeonpea varieties and their determinants. We find the sample adoption rate of improved varieties to be 14 % while the potential adoption rate if the improved varieties were widely disseminated is estimated at 41 %. The adoption gap resulting from the incomplete exposure to the improved pigeonpea is 27 %. Moreover, adoption is also found to be high among female-headed households, older farmers and those with access to credit. The findings suggest that for increased adoption, there is need for increased involvement of extension workers is the dissemination of information about improved pigeonpea varieties, a robust pigeonpea seed system to increase seed availability to farmers as well as the need for improved access to credit.
Malawi is one of the major groundnut producing countries in southern Africa. This paper
reviews t... more Malawi is one of the major groundnut producing countries in southern Africa. This paper
reviews the key opportunities and constraints in the groundnut sub-sector in Malawi in
terms of the current situation in production, yield and the harvested area, seed delivery
systems, marketing systems for produce and examines the future outlooks by making
projections for harvested area, production and total demand to the year 2020. Historical
trends show significant growth in groundnut production, while exports declined
significantly due to quality restrictions in the world market. The outlook analysis based
on production and exports simulations shows that area, production as well as demand for
groundnuts will continue to rise.
The future outlooks seem promising; however, there are a number of constraints that
negatively impact on the development of the groundnut sub-sector in Malawi. The
analysis has revealed weaknesses in the current seed systems as well as in the
enforcement of quality standards. The technology delivery and the grain marketing
systems are underdeveloped, leading to low use of improved technologies, and the
production of poor quality of nuts with high levels of aflatoxin that are not accepted by
the international markets.
Although the volumes of groundnut exports remain lower than the levels seen in the late
1980s, the review has shown that Malawi maintains a comparative advantage in
groundnut production and competitiveness in exports, suggesting that there is a scope for
increasing groundnut exports once the required quality standards are adhered to.
Therefore the findings suggest the need for faster productivity enhancement, strengthening seed delivery systems to reach more farmers, and the development of
existing value chains.
Land reform may be an effective means of reducing poverty in many developing countries where poli... more Land reform may be an effective means of reducing poverty in many developing countries where policy efforts have recently
embraced a decentralized market-based approach to land redistribution. We use household panel data combined with a quasi-experimental
program to assess the impact of a joint Malawi/World Bank land program on household well-being. Double difference
and matching methods are used to address identification sources of bias. Results point to average positive effects on several productive
outcomes of beneficiaries, while no effects are found with respect to access to social services. There is also evidence of heterogeneous
effects by gender and inheritance systems.
2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Resource use efficiency in agricultural production has been a major concern in Ethiopia. In this ... more Resource use efficiency in agricultural production has been a major concern in Ethiopia. In this article data from 700 households in the central highland districts were used to assess farm-level resource use efficiency and to determine factors that influence inefficiencies in the production of teff (Eragrostis tef), wheat and chickpea, the major important crops in the country. The study established that smallholder farmers are resource use inefficient. Moreover, a two-limit Tobit regression model results reveal that inefficiency in resource use is positively and significantly affected by family size, farming experience and membership to associations. It is also found that those households whose decision makers have roles in their community activities show improved resource use efficiency. Moreover, the findings show that eliminating resource use inefficiency could contribute about 31.28% of the minimum annual income required for the sustenance of an average farm household. The study established that resource use efficiency and productivity gains are likely to be significantly improved through expansion of nonfarm sectors, reform of farmer related associations and integrating community leadership in various community activities and programs. Moreover, market infrastructure development would likely increase efficiency and agricultural productivity.
Journal of Development Studies, 2012
This article evaluates the impact of adoption of improved pigeonpea technologies on consumption e... more This article evaluates the impact of adoption of improved pigeonpea technologies on consumption expenditure and poverty status using cross-sectional data of 613 households from rural Tanzania. Using multiple econometric techniques, we found that adopting improved pigeonpea significantly increases consumption expenditure and reduces poverty. This confirms the potential role of technology adoption in improving household welfare as higher incomes translate into
Land reform may be an effective means of reducing poverty in many developing countries where poli... more Land reform may be an effective means of reducing poverty in many developing countries where policy efforts have recently embraced a decentralized market-based approach to land redistribution. We use household panel data combined with a quasi-experimental program to assess the impact of a joint Malawi/World Bank land program on household well-being. Double difference and matching methods are used to address identification sources of bias. Results point to average positive effects on several productive outcomes of beneficiaries, while no effects are found with respect to access to social services. There is also evidence of heterogeneous effects by gender and inheritance systems.
High food price instability is one of the major risks facing agricultural households from develop... more High food price instability is one of the major risks facing agricultural households from developing countries. Resulting from agronomic factors as well as the historically low levels of world grain stocks and climate change, increased food price volatility has attracted renewed interest among policy experts in identifying appropriate policy instruments to counter its effects. This paper applies the GARCH model to data from twelve maize markets in Mozambique to estimate price seasonality and volatility. The results reveal the presence of seasonality, and high volatility. There is scope for improving price stability through the use of both market and non-market based price stabilization interventions that encourage investments in market infrastructure such as roads, warehouses and a market information system; institutions such as warehouse receipt system, credit and insurance; maintaining a strategic reserve and reduced tariffs and food-for-work programmes.
The national agricultural research organization of Ethiopia in collaboration with the Internation... more The national agricultural research organization of Ethiopia in collaboration with the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) developed and released a total of 11 improved chickpea varieties between 1974 and 2005. These varieties are high-yielding, stress tolerant, with desirable agronomic and market traits. However, until now there exists no systematic study to assess the economic impact of this research investment in Ethiopia. This information is useful for justifying future donor investments and other collaborative ventures in such projects. The objective of this study is to assess the potential economic and poverty impact of improved chickpea varieties adopted by Ethiopian farmers. The economic surplus model (based on DREAM model) was applied to estimate total benefits. With an annual chickpea production of 175,734 tons, chickpea price of US$ 164/tonne, a 31% production benefit, a supply and a demand elasticity of 0.9 and -1.4 respectively, maximum adoption of 75% and an annual increase of consumption of 2.6%, the economic surplus produced was estimated at US$ 111 million for 30 years. Consumers are estimated to get 39% of the benefit and producers 61%.With project costs of US$ 22 million, the benefit cost ratio is estimated at 5:1 and an internal rate of return of 55%, indicating that the investment is profitable. Even with the worst-case scenario i.e. lowest benefit (15%), highest discount rate (13%), lowest elasticities and price the benefit-cost ratio of 2:1, still justified the investment. The generated benefit is expected to lift more than 0.7 million people (both producers and consumers) out of poverty. Thus, further investments in the chickpea and other legume research in Ethiopia is justified as a means of poverty alleviation.
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Papers by Franklin Simtowe
The sub-optimal use of fertilizer is attributed to both supply side (non-availability of fertilizer) as well as demand side (eg high prices, lack of awareness of the recommended application rates, ignorance about the potential benefits from optimal application of fertilizer) constraints, both of which can be addressed by an appropriate mix of policy and regulatory framework and enforcement mechanisms. This paper presents findings from an assessment of the fertilizer policy and regulatory environment in Tanzania. Although Tanzania has a consistent set of policies and strategies for agriculture and rural development that reflect the importance of the sector in the nation’s development aspirations the assessment found some gaps in the fertilizer policy and regulatory environment especially in their enforcement
On the demand side, access to finance remains low among farmers and agrodealers. In order to improve small holder farmers’ access to fertilizers, the government of Mozambique in collaboration with the European Union, the Ministry of Agriculture, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, and the International Soil Fertility and Agricultural Development Centre (IFDC), implemented a pilot voucher-based fertilizer and seed subsidy program targeting 25,000 smallholder farmers. Access to fertilizer is necessary but not sufficient in increasing productivity. Equally important is the proper and efficient use of the fertilizers. Unfortunately, most farmers in Mozambique have limited access to agricultural extension services including information on fertilizer recommendations and general soil fertility management practices. According to IFPRI (2013) only about 10-15% of the farmers in Mozambique have access to agricultural extension services. The potential in increasing productivity lies in the farmers’ access to productivity enhancing technologies such quality fertilizer and complementary inputs as improved seeds coupled with good crop husbandry practices.
reviews the key opportunities and constraints in the groundnut sub-sector in Malawi in
terms of the current situation in production, yield and the harvested area, seed delivery
systems, marketing systems for produce and examines the future outlooks by making
projections for harvested area, production and total demand to the year 2020. Historical
trends show significant growth in groundnut production, while exports declined
significantly due to quality restrictions in the world market. The outlook analysis based
on production and exports simulations shows that area, production as well as demand for
groundnuts will continue to rise.
The future outlooks seem promising; however, there are a number of constraints that
negatively impact on the development of the groundnut sub-sector in Malawi. The
analysis has revealed weaknesses in the current seed systems as well as in the
enforcement of quality standards. The technology delivery and the grain marketing
systems are underdeveloped, leading to low use of improved technologies, and the
production of poor quality of nuts with high levels of aflatoxin that are not accepted by
the international markets.
Although the volumes of groundnut exports remain lower than the levels seen in the late
1980s, the review has shown that Malawi maintains a comparative advantage in
groundnut production and competitiveness in exports, suggesting that there is a scope for
increasing groundnut exports once the required quality standards are adhered to.
Therefore the findings suggest the need for faster productivity enhancement, strengthening seed delivery systems to reach more farmers, and the development of
existing value chains.
embraced a decentralized market-based approach to land redistribution. We use household panel data combined with a quasi-experimental
program to assess the impact of a joint Malawi/World Bank land program on household well-being. Double difference
and matching methods are used to address identification sources of bias. Results point to average positive effects on several productive
outcomes of beneficiaries, while no effects are found with respect to access to social services. There is also evidence of heterogeneous
effects by gender and inheritance systems.
2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
The sub-optimal use of fertilizer is attributed to both supply side (non-availability of fertilizer) as well as demand side (eg high prices, lack of awareness of the recommended application rates, ignorance about the potential benefits from optimal application of fertilizer) constraints, both of which can be addressed by an appropriate mix of policy and regulatory framework and enforcement mechanisms. This paper presents findings from an assessment of the fertilizer policy and regulatory environment in Tanzania. Although Tanzania has a consistent set of policies and strategies for agriculture and rural development that reflect the importance of the sector in the nation’s development aspirations the assessment found some gaps in the fertilizer policy and regulatory environment especially in their enforcement
On the demand side, access to finance remains low among farmers and agrodealers. In order to improve small holder farmers’ access to fertilizers, the government of Mozambique in collaboration with the European Union, the Ministry of Agriculture, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, and the International Soil Fertility and Agricultural Development Centre (IFDC), implemented a pilot voucher-based fertilizer and seed subsidy program targeting 25,000 smallholder farmers. Access to fertilizer is necessary but not sufficient in increasing productivity. Equally important is the proper and efficient use of the fertilizers. Unfortunately, most farmers in Mozambique have limited access to agricultural extension services including information on fertilizer recommendations and general soil fertility management practices. According to IFPRI (2013) only about 10-15% of the farmers in Mozambique have access to agricultural extension services. The potential in increasing productivity lies in the farmers’ access to productivity enhancing technologies such quality fertilizer and complementary inputs as improved seeds coupled with good crop husbandry practices.
reviews the key opportunities and constraints in the groundnut sub-sector in Malawi in
terms of the current situation in production, yield and the harvested area, seed delivery
systems, marketing systems for produce and examines the future outlooks by making
projections for harvested area, production and total demand to the year 2020. Historical
trends show significant growth in groundnut production, while exports declined
significantly due to quality restrictions in the world market. The outlook analysis based
on production and exports simulations shows that area, production as well as demand for
groundnuts will continue to rise.
The future outlooks seem promising; however, there are a number of constraints that
negatively impact on the development of the groundnut sub-sector in Malawi. The
analysis has revealed weaknesses in the current seed systems as well as in the
enforcement of quality standards. The technology delivery and the grain marketing
systems are underdeveloped, leading to low use of improved technologies, and the
production of poor quality of nuts with high levels of aflatoxin that are not accepted by
the international markets.
Although the volumes of groundnut exports remain lower than the levels seen in the late
1980s, the review has shown that Malawi maintains a comparative advantage in
groundnut production and competitiveness in exports, suggesting that there is a scope for
increasing groundnut exports once the required quality standards are adhered to.
Therefore the findings suggest the need for faster productivity enhancement, strengthening seed delivery systems to reach more farmers, and the development of
existing value chains.
embraced a decentralized market-based approach to land redistribution. We use household panel data combined with a quasi-experimental
program to assess the impact of a joint Malawi/World Bank land program on household well-being. Double difference
and matching methods are used to address identification sources of bias. Results point to average positive effects on several productive
outcomes of beneficiaries, while no effects are found with respect to access to social services. There is also evidence of heterogeneous
effects by gender and inheritance systems.
2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
On the demand side, access to finance remains low among farmers and agrodealers. In order to improve small holder farmers’ access to fertilizers, the government of Mozambique in collaboration with the European Union, the Ministry of Agriculture, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, and the International Soil Fertility and Agricultural Development Centre (IFDC), implemented a pilot voucher-based fertilizer and seed subsidy program targeting 25,000 smallholder farmers.
Access to fertilizer is necessary but not sufficient in increasing productivity. Equally important is the proper and efficient use of the fertilizers. Unfortunately, most farmers in Mozambique have limited access to agricultural extension services including information on fertilizer recommendations and general soil fertility management practices. According to IFPRI (2013) only about 10-15% of the farmers in Mozambique have access to agricultural extension services.
The potential in increasing productivity lies in the farmers’ access to productivity enhancing technologies such quality fertilizer and complementary inputs as improved seeds coupled with good crop husbandry practices.