Policy change and farmer feedback: Does anonymity matter? Evidence from Uzbekistan

Liutin, Anton; Dower, Paul Castañeda; and Alvi, Muzna. 2025. Policy change and farmer feedback: Does anonymity matter? Evidence from Uzbekistan. IFPRI Blog. Washington, DC: International Food Policy Research Institute. https://www.ifpri.org/blog/policy-change-and-farmer-feedback-does-anonymity-matter-evidence-from-uzbekistan/

Policymakers in countries that are transitioning away from authoritarian regimes can face challenges in obtaining unbiased information about local conditions—as do researchers and international community representatives working in these countries, including those trying to understand policy change. This information problem is a critical challenge for water security.

As key policy issues related to water resources, climate change, and agricultural supply chains become increasingly globalized, many countries face limited access to local information. Yet, how much, if at all, does such constrained information about local conditions affect the understanding of policies and policy change?