Issue #38, January 2021
In this issue, covering January 2021, we are happy to share our recent and upcoming events, blogs, and publications. Stay tuned for more!
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See an excerpt with our featured recent publications below and read the full issue here>>
Agricultural Systems
Deepak Varshney, Anjani Kumar, Ashok K. Mishra, Shahidur Rashid, and Pramod K. Joshi find that India’s government assistance package (known as Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana or PM-GKY) was significant in alleviating credit constraints and increasing agricultural investments in agricultural inputs. The PM-GKY recipients spent significantly more on the procurement of seeds, fertilizers, and pesticides. [Open Access]
Duncan Boughton et al report the initial impacts of measures taken to contain the COVID-19 pandemic on Myanmar's agri-food system. While the results of the study indicate considerable resilience in the agri-food system in response to the initial disruptions, persistent financial stress for a high proportion of households and agri-food system businesses indicate that the road to a full recovery will take time. [Open Access]
Applied Economic Perspectives and Policy
Lenis Saweda O. Liverpool‐Tasie, Thomas Reardon, and Ben Belton demonstrate the importance of recognizing and accounting for the essential role of food supply chains when designing policy and interventions, particularly in response to COVID‐19, and provide recommendations for action based on current realities. [Open Access]
Using panel phone survey data from India and Nepal, Muzna Alvi, Prapti Barooah, Shweta Gupta, and Smriti Saini find that women's already low access to formal extension was reduced further, leading to an increased reliance on informal social networks. In both countries, nearly 50% farmers reported negative impacts on productivity due to inaccessibility of information during the lockdown.
Journal of Development Effectiveness
Catherine Ragasa, Diston Mzungu, Kenan Kalagho and Cynthia Kazembe find that while radio programming, the preferred source of agricultural and nutrition advice among the rural population, has strong positive impact on technology awareness, the impact on actual adoption is limited. Other components of the interactive programming – listening clubs and call-in services – have limited coverage and effectiveness to date.
Economic Analysis and Policy
Jean Balié, Nicholas Minot, and Harold Glenn Valera explore the welfare effects of the Philippines Rice Tariffication Law (RTL) promulgated in 2019. Overall, the effects of the reform on poverty are beneficial. The poorest quintiles are positively affected, while the richest quintiles are unaffected or slightly worse-off.
Journal of Human Resources
Elisabetta Aurino, Aulo Gelli, Clement Adamba, Isaac Osei-Akoto, and Harold Alderman report results from a randomized trial of the government of Ghana’s school feeding program; find that after two years, the program led to moderate average increases in math and literacy standardized scores among pupils in treatment communities, and to larger achievement gains for girls and disadvantaged children and regions. [Open Access]
Journal of Gender, Agriculture and Food Security
Jemima Nomunume Baada and Dina Najjar find that migration-related agricultural feminization in drylands is influenced by gendered, generational, socioeconomic, and sociocultural factors, as well as economic and social remittances – with ongoing negotiations of these processes happening at different levels. [Open Access]
Ricardo Vargas et al analyze short-term effects of the COVID-19 quarantine measure on the production and commercialization strategies of potato and coffee producers in Peru. Potato farmers appeared more impacted by the shock due to disruptions in the commercialization channels, leading to lower sales volumes and prices. In the near future, both potato and coffee farmers risk severe capital losses that are likely to affect the next agricultural season. [Open Access]
The impact of Ethiopia’s direct seed marketing approach on smallholders’ access to seeds, productivity, and commercialization
Impacts of COVID-19 on global poverty, food security and diets
Games for triggering collective change in natural resource management: A conceptual framework and insights from four cases from India
Governance of woodfuel value chains in Kenya: An analysis of policies, legislative frameworks and institutional mechanism
Do cash transfers reduce trust and informal transfers within communities?
The cassava seed system in Nigeria: Opportunities and challenges for policy and regulatory reform
Exploring the regulatory space for improving availability, access and quality of vegetatively propagated crop seed: Potato in Kenya
Social protection and sustainable poverty reduction: Experimental evidence from Bangladesh
The impacts of cash transfers on mental health and investments: Experimental evidence from Mali
The education impacts of cash transfers for children with multiple indicators of vulnerability
