Grovermann, Christian and Wossen, Tesfamicheal and Blockeel, Johan and Beye, Assane and Gräub, Benjamin (2024) Digital advice for agroecological intensification - A randomised controlled trial to assess effectiveness of interactive voice recordings in Mali. In: AgEcon Search. Research in Agricultural & Applied Economics , online , pp. 2-17 .
![[thumbnail of Document in Organic Eprints]](https://aeprints.org/style/images/fileicons/text.png) Text (Document in Organic Eprints)
            
              
Text (Document in Organic Eprints)
  Available under License Creative Commons Attribution.
Download (163B)
Summary
Agroecological intensification is a key strategy for the development of sustainable food systems. The scaling of agroecological approaches and practices requires effective knowledge sharing mechanisms. Digital extension can complement traditional advisory services, especially in contexts where resources and reach are lacking or where security risks restrict access, as is the case in the Sahel. Interactive voice recordings (IVR) can work with standard phones and without the need for an internet connection or literacy. Based on a randomised controlled trial in Sikasso, Mali, this study tests the hypothesis that IVR messages increase awareness, knowledge sharing, learning and confidence around agroecological farming practices, such as intercropping, mulching or composting. While previous impact studies have focused rather on more conventional agricultural approaches, it is the first rigorous impact evaluation of digital training oriented explicitly towards agroecology. When aggregating across practices, significant positive effects were obtained for all outcome variables (awareness, intention to use, sharing of practice, interest to learn more, confidence in applying the practice). Effects range from 12% to 48%. When it comes to individual practices, not all outcomes are significant anymore, apart from mulching use, where effects lie between 24% and 195%. The evaluation results demonstrate that IVR-based advice has a relevant role in promoting agroecological intensification.
| Item Type: | Conference paper, poster etc. (Other) | 
|---|---|
| Agrovoc keywords: | Language Value URI UNSPECIFIED intercropping http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_3910 UNSPECIFIED agroecology http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_92381 UNSPECIFIED food systems http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_bea5db85 UNSPECIFIED sustainability http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_33560 | 
| Keywords: | Agroecological intensification, Sustainable food systems, Knowledge sharing, mechanisms, Agroecological farming practices, intercropping, Digital extension, Abacus, FiBL1014003, SustainSahel | 
| Subjects: | Themes > Farm management (farm level) > Social aspects Themes > Definitions, history, country information > Country/Region > Africa Themes > Environmental aspects | 
| Affiliations: | Other countries Switzerland > FiBL – Research Institute of Organic Agriculture | 
| Depositing User: | AEprints Admin | 
| Date Deposited: | 15 Nov 2024 14:27 | 
| Last Modified: | 08 Oct 2025 11:04 | 
| URI: | https://aeprints.org/id/eprint/144 | 


 Download Statistics
 Download Statistics Download Statistics
 Download Statistics