Effectiveness of a remote agricultural extension program in times of crisis: Experimental evidence from Myanmar

Goeb, Joseph; Maredia, Mywish; Herrington, Caitlin; and Zu, A Myint. 2023. Effectiveness of a remote agricultural extension program in times of crisis: Experimental evidence from Myanmar. Presented at the 2023 Agricultural & Applied Economics Association Annual Meeting, Washington DC on July 23-25, 2023. https://ageconsearch.umn.edu/record/335823

Agricultural extension can have important impacts on vulnerable populations by increasing food production, which improves both rural incomes and urban food security. Yet, crises induced by violent conflict or disease outbreaks can severe the connections between extension agents and farmers. Understanding how agricultural extension systems can safely and effectively reach farmers in times of crisis could help stabilize agri-food systems in fragile states. In the context of COVID-19, a military coup, and an emergent threat of fall armyworm in Myanmar, this paper uses a randomized controlled trial to test the effectiveness of two cellphone-based extension interventions – a direct-to-farmer and a lead-farmer intervention – for fall armyworm control in maize. Despite low compliance, both interventions caused knowledge improvements. However, damage control estimates show that the lead-farmer group used pesticides most effectively. Similar cellphone-based lead-farmer programs could be an effective tool in fragile states and when faced with emergent threats to agriculture.