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Product Market Reforms and Technology Adoption by Senegalese Onion Producers

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  • Bernard, Tanguy
  • de Janvry, Alain
  • Mbaye, Samba
  • Sadoulet, Elisabeth

Abstract

We empirically assess the responsiveness of Senegalese onion producers to significant changes in product market conditions, whereby onions are sold no longer based on volume but on weight and with labeling certifying quality. A village-level randomized information campaign on the upcoming introduction of these market reforms induced significant increase by farmers in the use of quality-enhancing inputs. Delays in the effective introduction of scales enabled us to show positive price returns from these quality- enhancing investments. These results point to the importance of improvements in the functioning of product markets to trigger technology adoption by farmers. Introduction of scales and labels was, however, not sustained as it challenged the market power of wholesale intermediaries. For these reforms to be sustainable, effective market regulation would be necessary.

Suggested Citation

  • Bernard, Tanguy & de Janvry, Alain & Mbaye, Samba & Sadoulet, Elisabeth, 2016. "Product Market Reforms and Technology Adoption by Senegalese Onion Producers," Department of Agricultural & Resource Economics, UC Berkeley, Working Paper Series qt9wj41042, Department of Agricultural & Resource Economics, UC Berkeley.
    • Handle: RePEc:cdl:agrebk:qt9wj41042
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Marcel Fafchamps & Ruth Vargas Hill & Bart Minten, 2008. "Quality control in nonstaple food markets: evidence from India," Agricultural Economics, International Association of Agricultural Economists, vol. 38(3), pages 251-266, May.
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    6. Tavneet Suri, 2011. "Selection and Comparative Advantage in Technology Adoption," Econometrica, Econometric Society, vol. 79(1), pages 159-209, January.
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    Cited by:

    1. Gashaw Tadesse Abate & Tanguy Bernard & Alan de Brauw & Nicholas Minot, 2018. "The impact of the use of new technologies on farmers’ wheat yield in Ethiopia: evidence from a randomized control trial," Agricultural Economics, International Association of Agricultural Economists, vol. 49(4), pages 409-421, July.
    2. Abate, Gashaw T. & Bernard, Tanguy, 2017. "Farmers’ quality assessment of their crops and its impact on commercialization behavior: A field experiment in Ethiopia," IFPRI discussion papers 1624, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI).
    3. David Alfaro‐Serrano & Tanay Balantrapu & Ritam Chaurey & Ana Goicoechea & Eric Verhoogen, 2021. "Interventions to promote technology adoption in firms: A systematic review," Campbell Systematic Reviews, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 17(4), December.

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