Abstract: Smallholder farming in many developing countries is characterized by low productivity and low-quality output. Low quality limits the price farmers can command and their potential income. We conduct a series of experiments among maize farmers in Uganda to shed light on the barriers to quality upgrading and to study its potential. We find that the causal return to quality is zero. Providing access to a market where quality is paid a market premium led to an increase in farm productivity and income from farming. Our findings reveal the importance of demand-side constraints in limiting rural income and productivity growth.
Presenter:
- Tessa Bold, Associate Professor, Institute of International Economic Studies, Stockholm University
Moderator:
- Anderson Gondwe, Research Fellow, MwAPATA Institute
Date:
- 7 December 2022
