Information Technology and Government Decentralization: Experimental Evidence From Paraguay

Econometrica ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 89 (2) ◽  
pp. 677-701
Author(s):  
Ernesto Dal Bó ◽  
Frederico Finan ◽  
Nicholas Y. Li ◽  
Laura Schechter
Keyword(s):  
Value Of Information ◽  
Middle Managers ◽  
Agricultural Extension ◽  
Extension Agents ◽  
Treatment Allocation ◽  
Ministerial Leadership ◽  
Treatment Priority ◽  
Standard Models ◽  
Monitoring Treatment ◽  
Roll Out

Standard models of hierarchy assume that agents and middle managers are better informed than principals. We estimate the value of the informational advantage held by supervisors—middle managers—when ministerial leadership—the principal—introduced a new monitoring technology aimed at improving the performance of agricultural extension agents (AEAs) in rural Paraguay. Our approach employs a novel experimental design that elicited treatment‐priority rankings from supervisors before randomization of treatment. We find that supervisors have valuable information—they prioritize AEAs who would be more responsive to the monitoring treatment. We develop a model of monitoring under different scales of treatment roll‐out and different treatment allocation rules. We semiparametrically estimate marginal treatment effects (MTEs) to demonstrate that the value of information and the benefits to decentralizing treatment decisions depend crucially on the sophistication of the principal and on the scale of roll‐out.

Sources of information for urban vegetable farmers in Accra, Ghana

2016 ◽  
Vol 33 (1) ◽  
pp. 72-79 ◽  
Author(s):  
Simon K. Osei ◽  
Benjamin Y. Folitse ◽  
Lucy P. Dzandu ◽  
Grace Obeng-Koranteng
Keyword(s):  
Public Relations ◽  
Agricultural Extension ◽  
Extension Agents ◽  
Sources Of Information ◽  
Food And Agriculture ◽  
Vegetable Farmers ◽  
Vegetable Farming ◽  
Different Sources ◽  
Local Languages ◽  
Roll Out

This study assesses sources of information for vegetable farmers in urban part of Accra, Ghana. One hundred vegetable farmers in the study area were sampled and interviewed using structured questionnaires. Findings revealed that urban vegetable farming is regarded as the business of men. Most of the urban vegetable farmers use radio as a source of agricultural information. Farmers use information on agrochemicals acquired in applying fertilizer, weedicides and pest control. A challenge to the urban vegetable farmers in Accra is poor public relations on the part of agricultural extension agents. The study recommends that the Ministry of Food and Agriculture roll out a programme to educate urban vegetable farmers on the various sources of agricultural information and sponsor adult education programmes in the local languages on national radio and television for farmers to help them make use of different sources of agricultural information effectively.

scholarly journals ANALISIS PERSEPSI PETANI PETERNAK TERHADAP PERAN PENYULUHAN DALAM PENGEMBANGAN AGRIBISNIS PETERNAKAN BABI DI DESA GIWAN KECAMATAN TIOM KABUPATEN LANNY JAYA

ZOOTEC ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 39 (2) ◽  
pp. 302
Author(s):  
Elinde Yoman ◽  
M T Massie ◽  
R E.M.F Osak ◽  
J Pandey
Keyword(s):  
Random Sampling ◽  
Sampling Method ◽  
Simple Random Sampling ◽  
Agricultural Extension ◽  
Survey Method ◽  
Extension Agents ◽  
Purposive Sampling ◽  
Pig Farming ◽  
Pig Farm

ANALYSIS OF FARMERS' PERCEPTIONS TOWARD THE ROLE OF COUNSELING IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF PIG FARMING ON AGRIBUSINESS IN GIWAN VILLAGE, TIOM DISTRICT, LANNY JAYA REGENCY. The objective of this study was to determine farmer’s perceptons toward the role of agricultural extension agents in the development of pig livestock agribusiness for breeder’s in Giwan Village, Tiom District, Lanny Jaya Regency. This study used a survey method. Sample of group breeder wasdetermined by purposive sampling and sample of breeders was selected by simple random sampling method. The results of the study showed that: (1) Most pig farmers in Giwan village had good or high perceptions of extension workers in their roles as educators (80%), still have moderate as consultants (75%), as motivators (75%), and as organizers (80%) of farmers in providing counseling in Giwan village. The conclusion of this research was farmers in Giwan village have good perceptions of extension workers in their roles as educators, motivators, and as organizers of farmers in managing pigs' business.Keywords:  Agribusiness, Pig Farm, Extension, Giwan. 

scholarly journals Land Conversion and Changes in Agricultural Communities at Cimanuk Subdistrict, Pandeglang Regency

2019 ◽  
Vol 6 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Susvia Delta Kusdiane ◽  
Endriatmo Soetarto ◽  
Satyawan Sunito
Keyword(s):  
Land Use ◽  
Data Analysis ◽  
Agricultural Land ◽  
Agricultural Extension ◽  
Economic Life ◽  
Extension Agents ◽  
Land Conversion ◽  
Agricultural Communities ◽  
Local Farmers

Cimanuk Subdistrict is known with rice brand called “beras cimanuk”, which is a quality rice-producing area in Pandeglang Regency, but land use due to regional development has affected the lives of farmers, especially the younger generation of local farmers. This study aims to see how the conversion of agricultural land has a significant impact on social change in society, especially in the survival of generations of farmers. Data collection was conducted from April to June 2016 with interview techniques involving 21 informants consisting of tenants, landowners, surrounding communities, and agricultural extension agents. Data analysis was carried out descriptively. The results of the study concluded that land use change affected the declining role of agriculture in the socio-economic life of the community. the fading of the meaning of agricultural land became a driver in the difficulty of realizing the regeneration of farmers in Cimanuk subdistrict

Climate Change Mainstreaming in Extension Agents Training Curricula: A Case of Mopani and Vhembe District, Limpopo Province, South Africa

2019 ◽  
Vol 55 (1) ◽  
pp. 44-57
Author(s):  
Zafezeka Mbali Zikhali ◽  
Paramu L. Mafongoya ◽  
Maxwell Mudhara ◽  
Obert Jiri
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
South Africa ◽  
Work Experience ◽  
Agricultural Extension ◽  
Limpopo Province ◽  
Extension Agents ◽  
Department Of Agriculture ◽  
Information Gap ◽  
Education Levels ◽  
Vhembe District

This study assessed the provision of informal training offered by the Limpopo Department of Agriculture, South Africa, to agricultural extension officers (AEOs). The study used surveyed 90 public extension officers purposively sampled. There were statistically significant differences in extension officers’ exposure to climate change between their education levels and in the provision of climate change training between extension officers’ work experience ( P⩽0.05). The study concluded that the majority of AEOs have not been fully exposed to climate information prior to their employment. This suggests that the information gap in Agricultural Extension and Advisory Services (AEAS) stems from the slow mainstreaming and integration of climate change information.

Evaluation of information needs of agricultural extension agents in Ghana

2016 ◽  
Vol 33 (5) ◽  
pp. 463-478 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joel Sam ◽  
Simon K. Osei ◽  
Lucy P. Dzandu ◽  
Kirchuffs Atengble
Keyword(s):  
Information Needs ◽  
Agricultural Sector ◽  
Survey Methodology ◽  
Decisive Role ◽  
Agricultural Extension ◽  
Information Infrastructure ◽  
Extension Agents ◽  
Ecological Zones ◽  
Inadequate Information ◽  
The Right

The agricultural sector plays a decisive role in Ghana’s economy, employment, and food security. The study set out to assess the information needs of agricultural extension agents across all the agro-ecological zones of Ghana, in order to provide them with the right information. A structured field survey methodology was used for the study and 472 agricultural extension agents from 40 districts in Ghana served as the respondents. The findings of the study revealed that agricultural extension agents regularly sourced for information from books and reports; visual or pictorial information was the most preferred format for package of information. The AEAs used agricultural extension information to assist in the discharge of their work, and as a basis for advice to farmers on general farm planning and consultancy among others. Challenges identified in accessing information included inadequate information infrastructure and training avenues. The AEAs suggested that critical information infrastructure such as libraries, information centers, and databases be provided as measures to offset the challenges. The study recommended that efforts should be directed at improving extension agents’ access to information infrastructure and that different and wide-ranging media should be developed to supply information to the AEAs.

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