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Can information help reduce imbalanced application of fertilizers in India? Experimental evidence from Bihar:

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  • Fishman, Ram
  • Kishore, Avinash
  • Rothler, Yoav
  • Ward, Patrick S.
  • Jha, Shankar
  • Singh, R. K. P.

Abstract

The imbalanced application of chemical fertilizers in India is widely blamed for low yields, poor soil health, pollution of water resources, and large public expenditures on subsidies. To address the issue, the government of India is investing in a large-scale, expensive program of individualizedsoil testing and customized fertilizer recommendations, with the hope that scientific information will lead farmers to optimize the fertilizer mix. We conducted a randomized controlled trial in the Indian state of Bihar in what we believe to be the first evaluation of the effectiveness of the program as currently implemented. We found no evidence of any impact of soil testing and customized fertilizer recommendations on actual fertilizer use or the willingness to pay for lacking nutrients (elicited using aBecker-DeGroot-Marschak mechanism). Several factors could be driving these results, including a lack of understanding, lack of confidence in the information’s reliability, or the costs of the recommended fertilizer mixes. We provide evidence that suggestslack of confidence is the main factor inhibiting farmers’ response

Suggested Citation

  • Fishman, Ram & Kishore, Avinash & Rothler, Yoav & Ward, Patrick S. & Jha, Shankar & Singh, R. K. P., 2016. "Can information help reduce imbalanced application of fertilizers in India? Experimental evidence from Bihar:," IFPRI discussion papers 1517, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI).
    • Handle: RePEc:fpr:ifprid:1517
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Esther Duflo & Michael Kremer & Jonathan Robinson, 2008. "How High Are Rates of Return to Fertilizer? Evidence from Field Experiments in Kenya," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 98(2), pages 482-488, May.
    2. Patrick S. Ward & Vartika Singh, 2015. "Using Field Experiments to Elicit Risk and Ambiguity Preferences: Behavioural Factors and the Adoption of New Agricultural Technologies in Rural India," Journal of Development Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 51(6), pages 707-724, June.
    3. Rema Hanna & Sendhil Mullainathan & Joshua Schwartzstein, 2012. "Learning Through Noticing: Theory and Experimental Evidence in Farming," NBER Working Papers 18401, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
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    Cited by:

    1. Rami Rawashdeh, 2023. "Estimating short-run (SR) and long-run (LR) demand elasticities of phosphate," Mineral Economics, Springer;Raw Materials Group (RMG);Luleå University of Technology, vol. 36(2), pages 239-253, June.
    2. Susan Godlonton & Manuel A Hernandez & Mike Murphy, 2018. "Anchoring Bias in Recall Data: Evidence from Central America," American Journal of Agricultural Economics, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association, vol. 100(2), pages 479-501.
    3. Panneerselvam Peramaiyan & Peter Craufurd & Virender Kumar & Lavanya P. Seelan & Andrew J. McDonald & Balwinder-Singh & Avinash Kishore & Sudhanshu Singh, 2022. "Agronomic Biofortification of Zinc in Rice for Diminishing Malnutrition in South Asia," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(13), pages 1-20, June.
    4. Kishore, Avinash & Singh, Vartika, 2021. "Seeds, Water, and Markets to Increase Wheat Productivity in Bihar, India," 2021 Conference, August 17-31, 2021, Virtual 315022, International Association of Agricultural Economists.
    5. Berazneva, Julia & Maertens, Annemie & Mhango, Wezi & Michelson, Hope, 2023. "Paying for agricultural information in Malawi: The role of soil heterogeneity," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 165(C).
    6. David M.A. Murphy & Dries Roobroeck & David R. Lee & Janice Thies, 2020. "Underground Knowledge: Estimating the Impacts of Soil Information Transfers Through Experimental Auctions†," American Journal of Agricultural Economics, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 102(5), pages 1468-1493, October.
    7. Oyakhilomen Oyinbo & Jordan Chamberlin & Tahirou Abdoulaye & Miet Maertens, 2022. "Digital extension, price risk, and farm performance: experimental evidence from Nigeria," American Journal of Agricultural Economics, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 104(2), pages 831-852, March.
    8. Kishore, A & Pala, BD & Joshia, K & Aggarwal, PK, 2018. "Unfolding government policies towards the development of climate smart agriculture in India," Agricultural Economics Research Review, Agricultural Economics Research Association (India), vol. 31(2).

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    Keywords

    fertilizers; farm inputs; soil analysis;
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