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Estimating the impact of sericulture adoption on farmer income in Rwanda: an application of propensity score matching

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  • Alexis Habiyaremye

Abstract

The adoption of an agricultural technology is often seen as a way to overcome the constraints imposed by the existing resources and/or production methods. As a small landlocked country, Rwanda sought to develop the capability to produce silk, a high value-to-volume ratio product, as a means to overcome the constraints of high transportation cost of exports. Sericulture was also seen as a handy strategy to boost rural farmer income by putting previously less productive land to use for mulberry plantations. Because sericulture was not introduced randomly, this study relied on observational data and applied propensity score matching to estimate its income and poverty reduction effects in six rural districts. The results indicate that sericulture adoption had beneficial effects both on increasing income and reducing poverty. The strengthening of related skills development and the supporting infrastructure remains crucial for the sericulture to successfully diffuse and yield economic benefits commensurate with its potential.

Suggested Citation

  • Alexis Habiyaremye, 2017. "Estimating the impact of sericulture adoption on farmer income in Rwanda: an application of propensity score matching," Agrekon, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 56(3), pages 296-311, July.
  • Handle: RePEc:taf:ragrxx:v:56:y:2017:i:3:p:296-311
    DOI: 10.1080/03031853.2017.1361853
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    2. Yuan Li Liu & Kai Zhu & Qi Yao Chen & Jing Li & Jin Cai & Tian He & He Ping Liao, 2021. "Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Farm Households’ Vulnerability to Multidimensional Poverty in Rural China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(4), pages 1-16, February.
    3. Abrham Belay & Alisher Mirzabaev & John W. Recha & Christopher Oludhe & Philip M. Osano & Zerihun Berhane & Lydia A. Olaka & Yitagesu T. Tegegne & Teferi Demissie & Chrispinus Mutsami & Dawit Solomon, 2024. "Does climate-smart agriculture improve household income and food security? Evidence from Southern Ethiopia," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 26(7), pages 16711-16738, July.
    4. Sankhulani, Linda, 2021. "Impact evaluation of conservation agriculture on smallholder farmers’ livelihood in Zambia and Tanzania," Research Theses 334762, Collaborative Masters Program in Agricultural and Applied Economics.

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • C13 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Econometric and Statistical Methods and Methodology: General - - - Estimation: General
    • C15 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Econometric and Statistical Methods and Methodology: General - - - Statistical Simulation Methods: General
    • O32 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Management of Technological Innovation and R&D
    • O38 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Government Policy

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