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Agric Econ 2020 Jan 27;51(1):47-58. Epub 2019 Nov 27.

International Food Policy Research Institute, IFPRI Washington, DC USA.

New data and new methods have provided many new insights into rural households in the past 50 years. We analyze what we have learned from household models since Boserup and Becker, using this to frame more recent findings about household behavior from three types of studies: observational studies, experimental games, and impact evaluations. More sex-disaggregated data, as well as data that are collected at smaller units, such as agricultural plots, have allowed us to better understand agricultural productivity, risk sharing, and spousal cooperation. Read More

Agric Econ 2019 Sep 19;50(5):567-580. Epub 2019 Aug 19.

Poverty, Health and Nutrition Division International Food Policy Research Institute Washington DC.

Effective agricultural extension is key to improving productivity, increasing farmers' access to information, and promoting more diverse sets of crops and improved methods of cultivation. In India, however, the coverage of agricultural extension workers and the relevance of extension advice is poor. We investigate whether a women's self-help group (SHG) platform could be an effective way of improving access to information, women's empowerment in agriculture, agricultural practices, and production diversity. Read More

Agric Econ 2019 29;50(Suppl 1):1-12. Epub 2019 Oct 29.

African Fertilizer and Agribusiness Partnership, Johannesburg, South Africa.

Sub-Saharan Africa faces low agricultural productivity amid a confluence of trends that include rapid population growth, climate change, and the rise of the middle class. To raise productivity, governments-in partnership with donors and development organizations-have launched numerous initiatives to encourage the development of sustainable and competitive agricultural input markets. Despite these efforts, markets remain underdeveloped in most countries and access to affordable seeds and fertilizers remains a major challenge for smallholder farmers. Read More

Agric Econ 2018 Jul 2;49(4):409-421. Epub 2018 Jul 2.

International Food Policy Research Institute Washington DC 20005.

In 2013, Ethiopia's Agricultural Transformation Agency introduced the Wheat Initiative to increase smallholder productivity. In this article, we measure the impacts of the Wheat Initiative package of technologies, and its marketing assistance component alone, on yields among a promotional group of farmers. The package includes improved techniques, improved inputs, and a guaranteed market for the crop. Read More

Agric Econ 2008 Dec;39(1):465-476

UCLA School of Public Affairs, 3250 Public Affairs Building, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1656, USA.

World food prices have increased dramatically in recent years. We use panel data from 2006 to examine the impact of these increases on the consumption and nutrition of poor households in two Chinese provinces. We find that households in Hunan suffered no nutrition declines. Read More