IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/jeborg/v216y2023icp170-186.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Information and the trade-off between food safety and food security in rural markets: Experimental evidence from Malawi

Author

Listed:
  • Nindi, Tabitha Charles
  • Bauchet, Jonathan
  • Ricker-Gilbert, Jacob

Abstract

We implemented a clustered randomized control trial with experimental auctions among 1,098 rural households in Malawi to evaluate whether providing training about food safety increased demand for safe groundnut. We measured the impact of training on demand for observable and unobservable dimensions of quality, at harvest and in the lean season. We found that the control group who was not trained valued sorted grains (an indicator of observable quality) only. At harvest, both trained and untrained consumers placed statistically equal premiums on food safety labeling (an indicator of otherwise-unobservable quality). However, in the lean season, untrained consumers’ premiums for food safety labeling disappeared, while trained consumers’ premiums for food safety labeling increased.

Suggested Citation

  • Nindi, Tabitha Charles & Bauchet, Jonathan & Ricker-Gilbert, Jacob, 2023. "Information and the trade-off between food safety and food security in rural markets: Experimental evidence from Malawi," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 216(C), pages 170-186.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jeborg:v:216:y:2023:i:c:p:170-186
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jebo.2023.10.022
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0167268123003761
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.jebo.2023.10.022?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Christiaensen,Luc & Kaminski,Jonathan & Christiaensen,Luc & Kaminski,Jonathan, 2014. "Post-harvest loss in Sub-Saharan Africa -- what do farmers say ?," Policy Research Working Paper Series 6831, The World Bank.
    2. Marshall Burke & Lauren Falcao Bergquist & Edward Miguel, 2019. "Sell Low and Buy High: Arbitrage and Local Price Effects in Kenyan Markets," The Quarterly Journal of Economics, President and Fellows of Harvard College, vol. 134(2), pages 785-842.
    3. Hoffmann, Vivian & Gatobu, Ken Mwithirwa, 2014. "Growing their own: Unobservable quality and the value of self-provisioning," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 106(C), pages 168-178.
    4. Stacy Prieto & Jacob Ricker-Gilbert & Jonathan Bauchet & Moussa Sall, 2021. "Incomplete Information and Product Quality in Rural Markets: Evidence from an Experimental Auction for Maize in Senegal," Economic Development and Cultural Change, University of Chicago Press, vol. 69(4), pages 1351-1377.
    5. Aggarwal, Shilpa & Francis, Eilin & Robinson, Jonathan, 2018. "Grain today, gain tomorrow: Evidence from a storage experiment with savings clubs in Kenya," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 134(C), pages 1-15.
    6. Nava Ashraf & Dean Karlan & Wesley Yin, 2006. "Tying Odysseus to the Mast: Evidence From a Commitment Savings Product in the Philippines," The Quarterly Journal of Economics, President and Fellows of Harvard College, vol. 121(2), pages 635-672.
    7. Gilbert, Christopher L. & Christiaensen, Luc & Kaminski, Jonathan, 2017. "Food price seasonality in Africa: Measurement and extent," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 67(C), pages 119-132.
    8. Tessa Bold & Selene Ghisolfi & Frances Nsonzi & Jakob Svensson, 2022. "Market Access and Quality Upgrading: Evidence from Four Field Experiments," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 112(8), pages 2518-2552, August.
    9. Basu, Karna, 2014. "Commitment savings in informal banking markets," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 107(C), pages 97-111.
    10. Hoffmann, Vivian & Moser, Christine & Saak, Alexander, 2019. "Food safety in low and middle-income countries: The evidence through an economic lens," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 123(C), pages 1-1.
    11. Kadjo, Didier & Ricker-Gilbert, Jacob & Alexander, Corinne, 2016. "Estimating Price Discounts for Low-Quality Maize in sub-Saharan Africa: Evidence from Benin," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 77(C), pages 115-128.
    12. Vivian Hoffmann & Christine M. Moser & Timothy J. Herrman, 2021. "Demand for Aflatoxin‐Safe Maize in Kenya: Dynamic Response to Price and Advertising," American Journal of Agricultural Economics, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 103(1), pages 275-295, January.
    13. Hoffmann, Vivian & Mutiga, Samuel K. & Harvey, Jagger W. & Nelson, Rebecca J. & Milgroom, Michael G., 2021. "Observability of food safety losses in maize: Evidence from Kenya," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 98(C).
    14. George A. Akerlof, 1970. "The Market for "Lemons": Quality Uncertainty and the Market Mechanism," The Quarterly Journal of Economics, President and Fellows of Harvard College, vol. 84(3), pages 488-500.
    15. Hugo Groote & Clare Narrod & Simon C. Kimenju & Charles Bett & Rosemarie P. B. Scott & Marites M. Tiongco & Zachary M. Gitonga, 2016. "Measuring rural consumers’ willingness to pay for quality labels using experimental auctions: the case of aflatoxin-free maize in Kenya," Agricultural Economics, International Association of Agricultural Economists, vol. 47(1), pages 33-45, January.
    16. Sarah Wairimu Kariuki & Vivian Hoffmann, 2022. "Can information drive demand for safer food? Impact of brand‐specific recommendations and test results on product choice," Agricultural Economics, International Association of Agricultural Economists, vol. 53(3), pages 454-467, May.
    17. Hira Channa & Jacob Ricker‐Gilbert & Hugo De Groote & Jonathan Bauchet, 2021. "Willingness to pay for a new farm technology given risk preferences: Evidence from an experimental auction in Kenya," Agricultural Economics, International Association of Agricultural Economists, vol. 52(5), pages 733-748, September.
    18. Jean-Marie Baland & Catherine Guirkinger & Charlotte Mali, 2011. "Pretending to Be Poor: Borrowing to Escape Forced Solidarity in Cameroon," Economic Development and Cultural Change, University of Chicago Press, vol. 60(1), pages 1-16.
    19. Didier Kadjo & Jacob Ricker‐Gilbert & Gerald Shively & Tahirou Abdoulaye, 2020. "Food Safety and Adverse Selection in Rural Maize Markets," Journal of Agricultural Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 71(2), pages 412-438, June.
    20. Diop, Ndiame & Beghin, John & Sewadeh, Mirvat, 2004. "Groundnut policies, global trade dynamics, and the impact of trade liberalization," Policy Research Working Paper Series 3226, The World Bank.
    21. Rebecca Dizon-Ross & Seema Jayachandran, 2022. "Improving Willingness-to-Pay Elicitation by Including a Benchmark Good," AEA Papers and Proceedings, American Economic Association, vol. 112, pages 551-555, May.
    22. Omotilewa, Oluwatoba J. & Ricker-Gilbert, Jacob & Ainembabazi, John Herbert & Shively, Gerald E., 2018. "Does improved storage technology promote modern input use and food security? Evidence from a randomized trial in Uganda," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 135(C), pages 176-198.
    23. Basu, Karna & Wong, Maisy, 2015. "Evaluating seasonal food storage and credit programs in east Indonesia," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 115(C), pages 200-216.
    24. Emma C. Stephens & Christopher B. Barrett, 2011. "Incomplete Credit Markets and Commodity Marketing Behaviour," Journal of Agricultural Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 62(1), pages 1-24, February.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Nindi, Tabitha C. & Ricker-Gilbert, Jacob & Bauchet, Jonathan, 2020. "Identifying appropriate incentive mechanisms for smallholder farmers to exploit inter-temporal arbitrage opportunities for grain legumes: Experimental evidence from Malawi," 2020 Annual Meeting, July 26-28, Kansas City, Missouri 304424, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association.
    2. Magnan, Nicholas & Hoffmann, Vivian & Opoku, Nelson & Gajate Garrido, Gissele & Kanyam, Daniel Akwasi, 2021. "Information, technology, and market rewards: Incentivizing aflatoxin control in Ghana," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 151(C).
    3. Gross, Jeremie & Guirkinger, Catherine & Platteau, Jean-Philippe, 2020. "Buy as you need: Nutrition and food storage imperfections," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 144(C).
    4. Channa, Hira & Ricker-Gilbert, Jacob & Feleke, Shiferaw & Abdoulaye, Tahirou, 2022. "Overcoming smallholder farmers’ post-harvest constraints through harvest loans and storage technology: Insights from a randomized controlled trial in Tanzania," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 157(C).
    5. Ricker-Gilbert, Jacob & Moussa, Bokar & Abdoulaye, Tahirou, 2021. "Using Branding to Signal Quality in Informal Markets. Evidence from an Experimental Auction in the Sahel," 2021 Conference, August 17-31, 2021, Virtual 315284, International Association of Agricultural Economists.
    6. Wouter Zant, 2022. "Two Birds with One Stone: Technology Adoption and Market Participation through Protection against Crop Failure," Tinbergen Institute Discussion Papers 22-091/V, Tinbergen Institute.
    7. Betelhem M. Negede & Hugo De Groote & Bart Minten & Maarten Voors, 2024. "Does access to improved grain storage technology increase farmers' welfare? Experimental evidence from maize farming in Ethiopia," Journal of Agricultural Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 75(1), pages 137-152, February.
    8. Le Cotty, Tristan & Maître d’Hôtel, Elodie & Subervie, Julie, 2023. "Inventory credit to enhance food security in Burkina Faso," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 161(C).
    9. Tristan Le Cotty & Elodie Maître d'Hôtel & Julie Subervie, 2019. "Inventory credit to enhance food security in Africa," CIRED Working Papers hal-02018715, HAL.
    10. Tabitha Nindi & Jacob Ricker‐Gilbert & Jonathan Bauchet, 2024. "Incentive mechanisms to exploit intraseasonal price arbitrage opportunities for smallholder farmers: Experimental evidence from Malawi," American Journal of Agricultural Economics, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 106(1), pages 330-353, January.
    11. Brander, Michael & Bernauer, Thomas & Huss, Matthias, 2021. "Improved on-farm storage reduces seasonal food insecurity of smallholder farmer households – Evidence from a randomized control trial in Tanzania," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 98(C).
    12. Tristan Le Cotty & Elodie Maitre d'Hotel & Subervie Julie, 2019. "Inventory credit to enhance food security in Africa," CEE-M Working Papers hal-02018715, CEE-M, Universtiy of Montpellier, CNRS, INRA, Montpellier SupAgro.
    13. Martin Julius Chegere & Razack Lokina & Agnes G. Mwakaje, 2020. "The impact of hermetic storage bag supply and training on food security in Tanzania," Food Security: The Science, Sociology and Economics of Food Production and Access to Food, Springer;The International Society for Plant Pathology, vol. 12(6), pages 1299-1316, December.
    14. T Le Cotty & E Maître d’Hôtel & R Soubeyran & J Subervie, 2019. "Inventory Credit as a Commitment Device to Save Grain Until the Hunger Season," American Journal of Agricultural Economics, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association, vol. 101(4), pages 1115-1139.
    15. Aker, Jenny C. & Dillon, Brian & Welch, C. Jamilah, 2023. "Demand, supply and long-term adoption: Evidence from a storage technology in West Africa," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 165(C).
    16. Wouter Zant, 2023. "How costly is using livestock as a savings device?," Food Security: The Science, Sociology and Economics of Food Production and Access to Food, Springer;The International Society for Plant Pathology, vol. 15(1), pages 77-110, February.
    17. Oluwagbenga Akinwehinmi & Kolawole Ogundari & Taye Timothy Amos, 2022. "Consumers’ food control risk perception and preference for food safety certification in emerging food markets," Journal of Agricultural Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 73(3), pages 690-708, September.
    18. Albuquerque, Rui & de Araujo, Bruno & Brandao-Marques, Luis & Mosse, Gerivasia & de Vletter, Pippy & Zavale, Helder, 2024. "Market timing, farmer expectations, and liquidity constraints," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 168(C).
    19. Lila Cardell & Hope Michelson, 2023. "Price risk and small farmer maize storage in Sub‐Saharan Africa: New insights into a long‐standing puzzle," American Journal of Agricultural Economics, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 105(3), pages 737-759, May.
    20. Basu, Karna & Wong, Maisy, 2015. "Evaluating seasonal food storage and credit programs in east Indonesia," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 115(C), pages 200-216.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:jeborg:v:216:y:2023:i:c:p:170-186. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.elsevier.com/locate/jebo .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.