Economy-wide Effects of PSNP in the Small and in the Largeessp2
This document summarizes research on evaluating the economy-wide effects of Ethiopia's Productive Safety Net Program (PSNP) at both the local and national levels. At the local level, the researchers used a Local Economy-Wide Impact Evaluation (LEWIE) model in 8 kebeles to estimate the effects of PSNP cash transfers and public works projects on output, incomes, and welfare. At the national level, they used a Computable General Equilibrium (CGE) model to estimate PSNP's effects on production, incomes, consumption, trade and GDP across Ethiopia. The analysis found that PSNP increased local and national economic activity beyond direct beneficiaries, with total benefits exceeding total costs. PSNP was estimated to
Agricultural growth and multiplier effects of consumption spending in rural a...IFPRIMaSSP
As per capita income of households increase, the share of expenditure on food declines as do expenditures on staples. Further, as incomes rise in the face of increasing urbanization, factor intensities of consumption patterns tend to shift from labor intensive rurally produced commodities to foreign exchange, capital intensive imported commodities. Using a nationally representative survey data and a social accounting matrix, this paper discusses locational and consumption linkages across aggregated commodity groups. It further analyzes the interdependencies between activities, households and factors by providing income multipliers in a general equilibrium framework. Results generally indicate that marginal propensities to consume for most food commodities are falling as incomes while some luxurious food groups such as spices and beverages are rising. Associated income and price multiplier effects show that output, demand, GDP and household incomes will increase by a factor of two cumulatively. However, increased output will not be sufficient to offset demand and as such imports will grow by a factor of four. Generally, changes in consumption spending behavior result in positive growth but prioritized growth is more appropriate.
Does market access mitigate the impact of seasonality on child growth?Panel ...essp2
1) The study examines whether better market access can protect children's nutrition from the impacts of seasonal fluctuations using panel data from rural Ethiopia.
2) It finds that while children located closer to food markets have better nutritional outcomes overall, their weights still undergo significant seasonal variations similar to children in more remote areas.
3) Further analysis suggests this is because near-market children consume more diverse diets year-round, including more animal-source foods during harvest seasons, but market access alone does not insulate against seasonality effects on children's nutrition.
Rural youth in Ethiopia primarily work in agriculture with limited opportunities for off-farm employment. A study using Ethiopian labor surveys found that while most rural youth work on family farms, older youth aged 25-34 have a greater probability of non-farm enterprise work compared to solely agricultural work. The study also found that primary education increases the likelihood of wage work, and that living in areas with good agricultural potential increases non-farm enterprise work for all youth cohorts. However, limited demand for rural off-farm jobs continues to constrain youth labor transition away from agriculture.
Presentation of the main results of a recent study which analyses the evolution of value distribution within the coffee sector, evaluates the social and environmental impacts generated along the chain, and estimates the hidden costs offset on public authorities and third parties. This analysis is based on detailed case studies of value chains between France (on the consumption side) and Colombia, Peru and Ethiopia (on the production side). Discussion wase followed by a debate on what kind of public policy measures could be put in place.
Off-farm income and labor markets in rural Ethiopia essp2
1) Off-farm income makes up 18% of total rural income in Ethiopia, with 10% coming from wage income. Wage income is as important as livestock income.
2) Wage and off-farm income are especially important for the poorest households, making up 26% and 13% of their incomes respectively.
3) Between 2004-2015, real rural wages in Ethiopia increased by 50% when adjusted for inflation, driven largely by agricultural growth. This has implications for poverty reduction and the increased use of technologies like herbicides.
Growth and Structural Transformation in Ethiopiaessp2
1) The document discusses Ethiopia's goals of rapid economic growth, poverty reduction, and structural transformation of the economy away from agriculture.
2) While Ethiopia has achieved 10% GDP growth, only 27% of increased worker productivity has come from structural change, lower than other fast growing countries.
3) Investments in urban areas drive the most growth but investments in agriculture and rural non-farm economy are more effective for poverty reduction, especially if they reduce underemployment.
Agricultural growth in Ethiopia (2004-2014): Evidence and driversessp2
1) Agricultural growth in Ethiopia from 2004-2014 was driven by increases in area cultivated, yields, and adoption of improved technologies like fertilizer and seeds.
2) Key drivers included expanded agricultural extension services, improved connectivity and education, and incentives for adoption of modern inputs.
3) Ethiopia invested heavily in agriculture over the past decade, expanding extension workers and improving informational efficiency, which supported agricultural intensification and modernization.
Economy-wide Effects of PSNP in the Small and in the Largeessp2
This document summarizes research on evaluating the economy-wide effects of Ethiopia's Productive Safety Net Program (PSNP) at both the local and national levels. At the local level, the researchers used a Local Economy-Wide Impact Evaluation (LEWIE) model in 8 kebeles to estimate the effects of PSNP cash transfers and public works projects on output, incomes, and welfare. At the national level, they used a Computable General Equilibrium (CGE) model to estimate PSNP's effects on production, incomes, consumption, trade and GDP across Ethiopia. The analysis found that PSNP increased local and national economic activity beyond direct beneficiaries, with total benefits exceeding total costs. PSNP was estimated to
Agricultural growth and multiplier effects of consumption spending in rural a...IFPRIMaSSP
As per capita income of households increase, the share of expenditure on food declines as do expenditures on staples. Further, as incomes rise in the face of increasing urbanization, factor intensities of consumption patterns tend to shift from labor intensive rurally produced commodities to foreign exchange, capital intensive imported commodities. Using a nationally representative survey data and a social accounting matrix, this paper discusses locational and consumption linkages across aggregated commodity groups. It further analyzes the interdependencies between activities, households and factors by providing income multipliers in a general equilibrium framework. Results generally indicate that marginal propensities to consume for most food commodities are falling as incomes while some luxurious food groups such as spices and beverages are rising. Associated income and price multiplier effects show that output, demand, GDP and household incomes will increase by a factor of two cumulatively. However, increased output will not be sufficient to offset demand and as such imports will grow by a factor of four. Generally, changes in consumption spending behavior result in positive growth but prioritized growth is more appropriate.
Does market access mitigate the impact of seasonality on child growth?Panel ...essp2
1) The study examines whether better market access can protect children's nutrition from the impacts of seasonal fluctuations using panel data from rural Ethiopia.
2) It finds that while children located closer to food markets have better nutritional outcomes overall, their weights still undergo significant seasonal variations similar to children in more remote areas.
3) Further analysis suggests this is because near-market children consume more diverse diets year-round, including more animal-source foods during harvest seasons, but market access alone does not insulate against seasonality effects on children's nutrition.
Rural youth in Ethiopia primarily work in agriculture with limited opportunities for off-farm employment. A study using Ethiopian labor surveys found that while most rural youth work on family farms, older youth aged 25-34 have a greater probability of non-farm enterprise work compared to solely agricultural work. The study also found that primary education increases the likelihood of wage work, and that living in areas with good agricultural potential increases non-farm enterprise work for all youth cohorts. However, limited demand for rural off-farm jobs continues to constrain youth labor transition away from agriculture.
Presentation of the main results of a recent study which analyses the evolution of value distribution within the coffee sector, evaluates the social and environmental impacts generated along the chain, and estimates the hidden costs offset on public authorities and third parties. This analysis is based on detailed case studies of value chains between France (on the consumption side) and Colombia, Peru and Ethiopia (on the production side). Discussion wase followed by a debate on what kind of public policy measures could be put in place.
Off-farm income and labor markets in rural Ethiopia essp2
1) Off-farm income makes up 18% of total rural income in Ethiopia, with 10% coming from wage income. Wage income is as important as livestock income.
2) Wage and off-farm income are especially important for the poorest households, making up 26% and 13% of their incomes respectively.
3) Between 2004-2015, real rural wages in Ethiopia increased by 50% when adjusted for inflation, driven largely by agricultural growth. This has implications for poverty reduction and the increased use of technologies like herbicides.
Growth and Structural Transformation in Ethiopiaessp2
1) The document discusses Ethiopia's goals of rapid economic growth, poverty reduction, and structural transformation of the economy away from agriculture.
2) While Ethiopia has achieved 10% GDP growth, only 27% of increased worker productivity has come from structural change, lower than other fast growing countries.
3) Investments in urban areas drive the most growth but investments in agriculture and rural non-farm economy are more effective for poverty reduction, especially if they reduce underemployment.
Agricultural growth in Ethiopia (2004-2014): Evidence and driversessp2
1) Agricultural growth in Ethiopia from 2004-2014 was driven by increases in area cultivated, yields, and adoption of improved technologies like fertilizer and seeds.
2) Key drivers included expanded agricultural extension services, improved connectivity and education, and incentives for adoption of modern inputs.
3) Ethiopia invested heavily in agriculture over the past decade, expanding extension workers and improving informational efficiency, which supported agricultural intensification and modernization.
Presentation, ‘Persistence of high food prices in Eastern Africa: What role for policy’ gives reflections by Dr Joseph Karugia on the rising food prices and the need for proactive and timely policy response mechanisms in Kenya. Comparisons between the regional and global price trends of major food crops - maize, cassava, potatoes, bananas and sorghum - are given. Factors affecting supply and demand for food in East African region are discussed including policy interventions that are necessary to bring down or stabilise the escalating regional price increases and those that are likely to compound the already bad situation.
Market Access, Marketing Behavior And Efficiency Among Farming HouseholdsKnowledge Mupanda
(1) Market access, as measured by proximity to tarred roads, is associated with higher rates of market participation and percentage of output sold among smallholder farmers in Mozambique. (2) Market participation is linked to higher farm productivity, but the relationship is endogenous so market access is used to instrument participation. Estimation of a translog production function and inefficiency model finds that farmers with greater market access and participation are closer to the production frontier. (3) The analysis uses a nationally representative survey of rural households over two years, applying a Heckman selection model and stochastic frontier analysis to control for endogeneity and estimate the relationships between market access, participation and efficiency.
Children’s diets, nutrition knowledge and access to marketsessp2
1) A study of 775 households in rural Ethiopia found that children's diets consist of few food groups, indicating low dietary diversity.
2) Improving household nutrition knowledge through programs like behavioral change communication can significantly increase children's dietary diversity by 0.7 food groups on average.
3) However, this positive impact of better nutrition knowledge on children's diets is only seen in households with relatively good access to markets. For more remote households, both improving nutrition knowledge and ensuring access to diverse foods are needed to enhance children's nutrition.
This presentation was made by Dr. Tabitha C. Nindi, a Research Fellow at the Malawi University of Science and Technology (MUST), on the 24th of March 2021
Persistence of high food prices in Eastern Africa: What role for policy?ILRI
Presented by Joseph Karugia (ReSAKSS-ECA) at the 48th meeting of the Open Forum for Agricultural Biotechnology in Africa – Kenya Chapter, Nairobi, 30 June 2011
Bart Minten, Joey Goeb, Jon Keesecker, Derek Headey
POLICY SEMINAR
COVID-19 and Food Market Disruptions in Myanmar
OCT 15, 2020 - 09:00 AM TO 10:30 AM +0630
Lawline: Counseling the Local Food Movement Part 1Cari Rincker
This presentation was given on October 24, 2013 to Lawline. It is Part 1 or a 2 Part series on "Counseling the Local Food Movement." It gives and overview and background of direct farm marketing, cottage food operations, liability and insurance. You can listen to the presentation and get a FREE CLE from Lawline here: http://bit.ly/15609Rj
Joey Goeb, Thet Hnin Aye, and Wahyu Nugroho
POLICY SEMINAR
Assessing the Impact of COVID-19 on Myanmar’s Crop Value Chains
JUL 22, 2020 - 09:00 AM TO 10:30 AM MMT
Does Weather Risk Explain Low Uptake of Agricultural Credit? Evidence from Et...essp2
1) The study investigates the impact of rainfall uncertainty on demand for agricultural credit and investment among rural households in Ethiopia.
2) The results show that higher rainfall variability is negatively associated with participation in the formal credit market, likely due to households' fear of defaulting on loans.
3) Higher rainfall variability leads households to allocate resources away from productive agricultural investments like fertilizer and toward defensive investments like pesticides and herbicides.
Influence of agricultural trade and food policies on dietsExternalEvents
Bhavani Shankar, SOAS
Expert consultation on trade and nutrition
15-16 November 2016, FAO Headquarters, Rome
http://www.fao.org/economic/est/est-events-new/tradenutrition/en/
This document discusses the issues facing smallholder agriculture in India since the Green Revolution. It outlines how the Green Revolution led to monocropping, high external input usage, and viewed farms as factories. This has led to increasing farmer debt, suicide rates, and environmental degradation. The number of cultivators is declining and average landholding sizes are shrinking. Institutional credit to agriculture is declining and many farmers lack access. There is a need to shift away from unsustainable industrial models to more integrated, ecological farming systems suited to local conditions.
Presentation of the main results of a recent study which analyses the evolution of value distribution within the coffee sector, evaluates the social and environmental impacts generated along the chain, and estimates the hidden costs offset on public authorities and third parties. This analysis is based on detailed case studies of value chains between France (on the consumption side) and Colombia, Peru and Ethiopia (on the production side). Discussion wase followed by a debate on what kind of public policy measures could be put in place.
This document analyzes changes in Ethiopia's food consumption patterns using nationally representative household survey data from 1995-2011. Key findings include:
1) Ethiopians are consuming more calories on average and spending a larger share of expenditures on non-food and higher-value food items like animal products and oils.
2) Cereal consumption remains important but Ethiopians are diversifying their diets, with the share of cereals in food expenditures declining.
3) Urban residents and wealthier households consume more expensive foods like teff and meat, while rural and poorer households rely more on maize, sorghum and enset/kocho.
Disentangling food security from subsistence ag malawi t benson_july_2021-minIFPRIMaSSP
This presentation was made during the launch of a book titled "Disentangling Food Security from Subsistence Agriculture in Malawi" by Dr. Todd Benson, IFPRI, at IFPRI Malawi brownbag seminar
The impact of increased teff production on ethiopia's economyessp2
International Food Policy Research Institute/ Ethiopia Strategy Support Program (IFPRI/ ESSP)and Ethiopian Development Research Institute (EDRI) Coordinated a conference with Agriculutral Transformation Agency (ATA) and Ministry of Agriculutrue (MoA) on Teff Value Chain at Hilton Hotel Addis Ababa on October 10, 2013.
Domestic support disciplines for the 21st century: A blueprint for the WTO Tw...IFPRI-PIM
The document discusses various scenarios for reforming domestic agricultural support policies through changes to limits on Overall Trade Distorting Support (OTDS) and product-specific caps. It analyzes the impacts of different scenarios on world prices, trade volumes, production, and exports of certain commodities. Key variables include the base years and methodology for calculating value of production, thresholds for developing vs developed countries, timelines for phased reductions, and treatments for special products and cotton. Modeling results are presented to compare outcomes across scenarios. Recommendations emphasize the need for simplified rules, special treatment for developing countries, and properly defined caps to avoid loopholes.
Commercialization of crops can help increase yields for smallholder farmers in Central Africa. A study analyzed data from 480 households in Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo to assess the effects of agricultural commercialization. The results showed that higher levels of commercialization were positively associated with increased use of fertilizer and improved seed varieties. Commercialized farmers also had higher crop yields, generating over $12 more per hectare than less commercialized farmers. However, commercialization's influence relied on other factors like access to credit, markets, and information. The study concluded that promoting commercialization could motivate smallholders to intensify production and boost yields in Central Africa.
Developing the rice value chain in East and West Africa Major challenges but ...Francois Stepman
The document discusses the development of the rice value chain in East and West Africa. It outlines the challenges facing rice production on the continent but also its high potential given suitable conditions. The Competitive African Rice Initiative (CARI) is a European Commission program aimed at developing the rice sector through a matching funds mechanism that leverages private sector investments. CARI Phase I achieved increased productivity, efficiency and incomes for farmers in several countries. Phase II will expand these efforts to additional countries and smallholders through multi-actor partnerships along the entire rice value chain. Key approaches include matching funds, farmer business schools and an expert training program.
The role of transaction costs in 'cash versus food' debateessp2
Kalle Hirvonen, IFPRI, Ethiopia Strategy Support Program (ESSP)
with John Hoddinott, Cornell University
Nordic Conference in Development Economics, Gothenburg, June 2017
Presentation, ‘Persistence of high food prices in Eastern Africa: What role for policy’ gives reflections by Dr Joseph Karugia on the rising food prices and the need for proactive and timely policy response mechanisms in Kenya. Comparisons between the regional and global price trends of major food crops - maize, cassava, potatoes, bananas and sorghum - are given. Factors affecting supply and demand for food in East African region are discussed including policy interventions that are necessary to bring down or stabilise the escalating regional price increases and those that are likely to compound the already bad situation.
Market Access, Marketing Behavior And Efficiency Among Farming HouseholdsKnowledge Mupanda
(1) Market access, as measured by proximity to tarred roads, is associated with higher rates of market participation and percentage of output sold among smallholder farmers in Mozambique. (2) Market participation is linked to higher farm productivity, but the relationship is endogenous so market access is used to instrument participation. Estimation of a translog production function and inefficiency model finds that farmers with greater market access and participation are closer to the production frontier. (3) The analysis uses a nationally representative survey of rural households over two years, applying a Heckman selection model and stochastic frontier analysis to control for endogeneity and estimate the relationships between market access, participation and efficiency.
Children’s diets, nutrition knowledge and access to marketsessp2
1) A study of 775 households in rural Ethiopia found that children's diets consist of few food groups, indicating low dietary diversity.
2) Improving household nutrition knowledge through programs like behavioral change communication can significantly increase children's dietary diversity by 0.7 food groups on average.
3) However, this positive impact of better nutrition knowledge on children's diets is only seen in households with relatively good access to markets. For more remote households, both improving nutrition knowledge and ensuring access to diverse foods are needed to enhance children's nutrition.
This presentation was made by Dr. Tabitha C. Nindi, a Research Fellow at the Malawi University of Science and Technology (MUST), on the 24th of March 2021
Persistence of high food prices in Eastern Africa: What role for policy?ILRI
Presented by Joseph Karugia (ReSAKSS-ECA) at the 48th meeting of the Open Forum for Agricultural Biotechnology in Africa – Kenya Chapter, Nairobi, 30 June 2011
Bart Minten, Joey Goeb, Jon Keesecker, Derek Headey
POLICY SEMINAR
COVID-19 and Food Market Disruptions in Myanmar
OCT 15, 2020 - 09:00 AM TO 10:30 AM +0630
Lawline: Counseling the Local Food Movement Part 1Cari Rincker
This presentation was given on October 24, 2013 to Lawline. It is Part 1 or a 2 Part series on "Counseling the Local Food Movement." It gives and overview and background of direct farm marketing, cottage food operations, liability and insurance. You can listen to the presentation and get a FREE CLE from Lawline here: http://bit.ly/15609Rj
Joey Goeb, Thet Hnin Aye, and Wahyu Nugroho
POLICY SEMINAR
Assessing the Impact of COVID-19 on Myanmar’s Crop Value Chains
JUL 22, 2020 - 09:00 AM TO 10:30 AM MMT
Does Weather Risk Explain Low Uptake of Agricultural Credit? Evidence from Et...essp2
1) The study investigates the impact of rainfall uncertainty on demand for agricultural credit and investment among rural households in Ethiopia.
2) The results show that higher rainfall variability is negatively associated with participation in the formal credit market, likely due to households' fear of defaulting on loans.
3) Higher rainfall variability leads households to allocate resources away from productive agricultural investments like fertilizer and toward defensive investments like pesticides and herbicides.
Influence of agricultural trade and food policies on dietsExternalEvents
Bhavani Shankar, SOAS
Expert consultation on trade and nutrition
15-16 November 2016, FAO Headquarters, Rome
http://www.fao.org/economic/est/est-events-new/tradenutrition/en/
This document discusses the issues facing smallholder agriculture in India since the Green Revolution. It outlines how the Green Revolution led to monocropping, high external input usage, and viewed farms as factories. This has led to increasing farmer debt, suicide rates, and environmental degradation. The number of cultivators is declining and average landholding sizes are shrinking. Institutional credit to agriculture is declining and many farmers lack access. There is a need to shift away from unsustainable industrial models to more integrated, ecological farming systems suited to local conditions.
Presentation of the main results of a recent study which analyses the evolution of value distribution within the coffee sector, evaluates the social and environmental impacts generated along the chain, and estimates the hidden costs offset on public authorities and third parties. This analysis is based on detailed case studies of value chains between France (on the consumption side) and Colombia, Peru and Ethiopia (on the production side). Discussion wase followed by a debate on what kind of public policy measures could be put in place.
This document analyzes changes in Ethiopia's food consumption patterns using nationally representative household survey data from 1995-2011. Key findings include:
1) Ethiopians are consuming more calories on average and spending a larger share of expenditures on non-food and higher-value food items like animal products and oils.
2) Cereal consumption remains important but Ethiopians are diversifying their diets, with the share of cereals in food expenditures declining.
3) Urban residents and wealthier households consume more expensive foods like teff and meat, while rural and poorer households rely more on maize, sorghum and enset/kocho.
Disentangling food security from subsistence ag malawi t benson_july_2021-minIFPRIMaSSP
This presentation was made during the launch of a book titled "Disentangling Food Security from Subsistence Agriculture in Malawi" by Dr. Todd Benson, IFPRI, at IFPRI Malawi brownbag seminar
The impact of increased teff production on ethiopia's economyessp2
International Food Policy Research Institute/ Ethiopia Strategy Support Program (IFPRI/ ESSP)and Ethiopian Development Research Institute (EDRI) Coordinated a conference with Agriculutral Transformation Agency (ATA) and Ministry of Agriculutrue (MoA) on Teff Value Chain at Hilton Hotel Addis Ababa on October 10, 2013.
Domestic support disciplines for the 21st century: A blueprint for the WTO Tw...IFPRI-PIM
The document discusses various scenarios for reforming domestic agricultural support policies through changes to limits on Overall Trade Distorting Support (OTDS) and product-specific caps. It analyzes the impacts of different scenarios on world prices, trade volumes, production, and exports of certain commodities. Key variables include the base years and methodology for calculating value of production, thresholds for developing vs developed countries, timelines for phased reductions, and treatments for special products and cotton. Modeling results are presented to compare outcomes across scenarios. Recommendations emphasize the need for simplified rules, special treatment for developing countries, and properly defined caps to avoid loopholes.
Commercialization of crops can help increase yields for smallholder farmers in Central Africa. A study analyzed data from 480 households in Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo to assess the effects of agricultural commercialization. The results showed that higher levels of commercialization were positively associated with increased use of fertilizer and improved seed varieties. Commercialized farmers also had higher crop yields, generating over $12 more per hectare than less commercialized farmers. However, commercialization's influence relied on other factors like access to credit, markets, and information. The study concluded that promoting commercialization could motivate smallholders to intensify production and boost yields in Central Africa.
Developing the rice value chain in East and West Africa Major challenges but ...Francois Stepman
The document discusses the development of the rice value chain in East and West Africa. It outlines the challenges facing rice production on the continent but also its high potential given suitable conditions. The Competitive African Rice Initiative (CARI) is a European Commission program aimed at developing the rice sector through a matching funds mechanism that leverages private sector investments. CARI Phase I achieved increased productivity, efficiency and incomes for farmers in several countries. Phase II will expand these efforts to additional countries and smallholders through multi-actor partnerships along the entire rice value chain. Key approaches include matching funds, farmer business schools and an expert training program.
The role of transaction costs in 'cash versus food' debateessp2
Kalle Hirvonen, IFPRI, Ethiopia Strategy Support Program (ESSP)
with John Hoddinott, Cornell University
Nordic Conference in Development Economics, Gothenburg, June 2017
The paper analyzes the price effects of cash versus in-kind transfers using data from a randomized experiment in Mexico. It finds that:
1) Prices for goods decline more for in-kind transfers than for cash transfers, with the difference in price effects being statistically significant.
2) The price effects are larger in more remote villages, consistent with those villages having more closed economies and less competition.
3) The results provide empirical evidence that in-kind transfers can have larger impacts on prices than cash transfers due to introducing supply as well as demand for goods in local markets.
Did Rapid Smallholder-led Agricultural Growth fail to Reduce Rural Poverty? M...IFPRIMaSSP
1) Malawi experienced rapid economic growth from 2004-2011 led by strong agricultural growth, but official poverty estimates surprisingly showed rural poverty increasing.
2) The study refined the poverty estimation methodology used by the national statistics office, including using regional poverty lines and revising consumption conversion factors.
3) The revised analysis found significantly larger declines in rural poverty over time compared to official estimates, especially in southern rural areas, suggesting agricultural growth did reduce rural poverty contrary to official results.
The document summarizes research comparing the impacts of providing assistance in the form of food or cash transfers in developing countries. It discusses a four-country experimental study conducted by IFPRI and WFP that directly compared the impacts of providing equivalent amounts of food or cash/vouchers in Ecuador, Niger, Uganda, and Yemen. The study found that across contexts, cash transfers generally improved food security outcomes slightly better than food transfers while costing significantly less to implement. The study provides evidence that cash transfers did not have adverse impacts and in some cases had additional beneficial impacts, though food transfers remain appropriate in some contexts. The discussion emphasizes moving beyond ideological debates to focus on objectives, context, and cost-effectiveness of different modalities.
The increasing costs of nutritious foods in Ethiopia: Evidence and determinantsessp2
This document summarizes a study on trends in prices of nutritious foods in Ethiopia between 2007-2016. Key findings include:
1) Prices of vitamin A-rich foods and animal-source foods significantly increased, making healthy diets less affordable.
2) Prices of sugars and oils/fats decreased, which could contribute to obesity issues.
3) Local supply and demand, as well as border prices and exchange rates, were significant determinants of food prices.
4) Increasing prices of nutritious foods could undermine nutrition goals, so policies should focus on improving production and access to diverse, healthy diets.
This document discusses a randomized controlled trial evaluating the effects of a light-touch graduation model implemented at large scale in rural Ethiopia. The intervention included a $200 lump sum transfer (in cash or poultry), training, and establishment of village savings groups for the poorest households. In the short-run, the intervention led to increases in livestock assets and savings rates. In the medium-run, positive effects were seen on assets, agricultural income, and savings rates, but not on consumption or food security. The lighter-touch approach without transfers did not have significant impacts except on savings. While increasing incomes, the intervention was not sufficient on its own to lift households out of poverty, highlighting the need for more intensive graduation models
Strengthening Nutrition and Improving Livelihoods through Linking Women Farme...INGENAES
This document examines the impact of linking small-scale women farmers to markets and agricultural extension services in Bangladesh. It finds that combining collective marketing opportunities with production-oriented training can improve outcomes for farmers. Specifically, it leads to increased farm production and income, greater household expenditures on necessities like healthcare and education, and improved nutrition diversity. Additionally, bringing women farmers together in clusters effectively engaged them in the programs and increased their empowerment, which helped dietary diversity. The interventions provided women farmers stable market access and skills to boost agriculture and livelihoods.
Agriculture support services direct effects, complementarities and time dynamicsIFPRIMaSSP
Using a randomized controlled trial, we examine the impacts of cash and input transfers and a cross-randomized program of intensive agricultural extension over two years. We find large effects on the total value of agricultural production from the transfers (both cash and inputs) in both years. Gains to production are driven by an increase in resources allocated to inputs, specifically pesticides (in the first year) and the use of casual labor (both years). We see no direct evidence that intensive extension is more effective than lead farmer extension support after one year. However, we do find evidence of production gains attributable to intensive extension in the subsequent year, highlighting important time dynamics. In the first year, farmers experience the best outcomes when they receive both transfers and extension, though that pattern is less clear in year two. These results suggest that more research is needed to understand the interactions between and the time dynamics of programs aimed at boosting agricultural productivity.
Javier Escobal & Carmen Ponce: Combining social protection with economic oppo...UNDP Policy Centre
This presentation is part of the programme of the International Seminar "Social Protection, Entrepreneurship and Labour Market Activation: Evidence for Better Policies", organized by the International Policy Centre for Inclusive Growth (IPC-IG/UNDP) together with Canada’s International Development Research Centre (IDRC) and the Colombian Think Tank Fedesarrollo held on September 10-11 at the Ipea Auditorium in Brasilia.
Food Price inflation in india and the control measures ( BY Devesh Shukla Group)MD SALMAN ANJUM
Inflation refers to a general rise in prices over time which decreases purchasing power. Food inflation specifically relates to consistent price increases of agricultural food items due to changes in supply and demand. In India, the consumer price index replaced the wholesale price index as the main measure of inflation and food/beverages accounts for 45.86% of the consumer price index weighting. Factors that influence food price inflation include oil prices, biofuel policies, weather conditions, supply/demand imbalances, and commodity market speculation. Addressing food price inflation requires measures like revised monetary policies, increasing agricultural productivity and supply, import policies, improving distribution systems, and strengthening social protection programs.
Public grain reserves: International experience and lessons for MalawiIFPRIMaSSP
On 27 January 2017, Dr. Nicholas Minot, Deputy Division Director of IFPRI’s Markets, Trade, and Institutions Division led a seminar at IFPRI-Malawi on, “Public grain reserves: International experience and lessons for Malawi.” His presentation explored the objectives and tradeoffs of creating public grain reserves and various policy options that affect their performance and cost.
Macro-Policy, Agricultural Growth and Poverty Reduction in Ethiopia: Maintai...essp2
This document summarizes an analysis of macro-policy, agricultural growth, and poverty reduction in Ethiopia. It finds that Ethiopia has achieved substantial progress in reducing poverty and increasing food security through agricultural investments and reforms. Agricultural growth averaged over 8% annually from 2004-2016 due to increased yields driven by improved seeds, fertilizer, and total factor productivity. However, macroeconomic imbalances including real exchange rate appreciation and rising public debt pose risks. Future scenarios project that land and water constraints may slow agricultural growth, while urbanization and changing diets will shape demand. Sustaining success will depend on balanced investments and managing macroeconomic stability.
Impact Evaluation of WFP's Fresh Food Voucher Pilot Program in Ethiopiaessp2
The document summarizes an impact evaluation of a fresh food voucher pilot program in Ethiopia. The program aims to improve dietary diversity for young children and women by providing vouchers that can be redeemed for fruits, vegetables, and animal source foods. The evaluation will use a cluster randomized controlled trial across 60 villages to compare changes in dietary outcomes between groups receiving social behavior change communication only, versus also receiving vouchers of different values. The goal is to understand the program's impact and cost-effectiveness to inform potential scale-up. Planning began in advance and involves multiple stakeholders for buy-in and approvals.
Food consumption patterns and implications for poverty reductionTahira Sultana
This document analyzes food security and consumption patterns in Pakistan. It finds that nearly half the population is unable to meet minimum calorie requirements. Wheat provides the majority of calories but its price has risen significantly, hurting many households. Analysis of household survey data shows that the poor spend a larger share of their budget on food compared to non-poor households. Rising global and domestic food prices pose challenges for food security and welfare in Pakistan.
Derek Headey and Marie Ruel from IFPRI presented on the impacts of COVID-19 on childhood malnutrition and nutrition-related mortality. They found that economic contractions from COVID-19 prevention measures can significantly increase risks of child wasting. Using DHS data from 52 countries from 1990-2018, they estimated that a 10% decline in GNI could increase moderate or severe child wasting by 14%. They also explored mechanisms like impacts on child diets, disease rates, and maternal nutrition. Applying their model to Ethiopia, they estimated that a 5.5% GNI decline could result in over 70,000 additional moderately or severely wasted children. They discussed the need for unprecedented social protection and nutrition programs to mitigate impacts on child
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The impact of large-scale social protection interventions on grain prices in poor countries: Evidence from Ethiopia
1. ETHIOPIAN DEVELOPMENT
RESEARCH INSTITUTE
The impact of large-scale social
protection interventions on grain prices
in poor countries: Evidence from Ethiopia
Kalle Hirvonen (IFPRI-ESSP)
with John Hoddinott (Cornell), David Stifel (Lafayette) and Bart Minten
(IFPRI-ESSP)
Ethiopian Economics Association
16th International Conference on the Ethiopian Economy
Addis Ababa
1
2. 2
Ethiopia’s Productive Safety Net Program
• Established in 2005, PSNP “. . . provides transfers to the food
insecure population in chronically food insecure woredas in a
way that prevents asset depletion at the household level and
creates assets at the community level”.
• About 8 million chronically food insecure people; 2nd largest
Safety-Net program in Africa
• Provides monthly transfers during slack season against
public works
• Direct support for households with limited labour capacity
3. 3
Ethiopia’s Productive Safety Net Program
• In many ways, PSNP can be considered as a success:
o The program is well targeted towards the poor and food
insecure households.
o IFPRI-led impact evaluations show that PSNP has improved
food security, consumption outcomes and stabilized asset
levels.
4. 4
But there are persistent concerns:
1. PSNP reduces labor effort?
o No evidence; Hoddinott et al, 2012
2. PSNP crowds out private transfers?
o No evidence; Berhane et al, 2014
3. PSNP increases fertility?
o No evidence; Hoddinott & Mekasha, 2017
4. PSNP has some pecuniary effects / price effects
o Focus here
5. 5
Some theory
• Theoretically, the impacts of cash and food transfers on local food prices
depend on the assumptions we make about:
1) Open or closed economy; if open, supply curve is flat
2) Size of the transfer; if small, then negligible price effects
3) How well markets function; perfect or imperfect competition
(oligopolistic)
4) Magnitude of the income elasticity of demand; ‘how much the
income effect shifts the demand curve’
5) Whether food transfers can be re-sold
+ in the context of multiple grain markets (as in Ethiopia):
6) Cross price elasticities (are products substitutes or complements?)
6. 6
Price effects of aid/social assistance
• Evidence from aggregate food aid flows and/or national markets:
o Negligible price effects (Gelan, 2007; Garg et al, 2013; Mabuza et al,
2009; Tadesse and Shively, 2009)
o Large negative impacts (Levinsohn and McMillan, 2007; Tschirley,
Donovan and Weber, 1996)
• MUCH less is known about the effects of cash transfers on local food
prices and even less about how they compare to food transfers.
• Cunha, Di Giorgi and Jayachandran (2017), rural Mexico:
o Prices are lower under in-kind transfers compared with cash
transfers. Relative to their control group (no transfers), in-kind
transfers lead to a 4 percent fall in prices while cash transfers lead to
a positive but small (& insignificant) increase in prices.
o Both effects were more pronounced in more remote villages.
7. PSNP: Food or cash payments
• Food payments consist of 3 kilograms of cereals for each day
worked. They are typically made in the form of wheat or maize
and almost exclusively sourced from the international market.
• Cash payments are intended to be approximately equal the value
of the food payments.
• Transfers are sizable: on average around 15 % of household
annual income
• Coverage levels vary, but in some localities more than 70 % of
households receive these transfers
• 93 % of HHs that received food transfers reported that they never
sold any of them. The rest did so rarely.
• Most transfers take place between January and June (but not all)
8. 8
Data
• Evaluation data: HH survey from Jan/Feb 2016 + community surveys
• Representative of the area in which the program operates
• This study: ‘Highland’ regions (Amhara, Oromia, SNNP and Tigray)
9. Data Constructions
• Kebele level analysis using monthly data for January – December 2015
• Monthly PSNP payments (recall)
• Retail price data for 3 grains most commonly consumed in the area
(recall)
• In total, the survey included 88 woredas and 264 kebeles (i.e. three
kebeles in each surveyed woreda). The PSNP operated in 233 of these
kebeles in 2015. PSNP operations were scheduled to start in the
remaining 31 kebeles in 2016. As such, they are not included in this
analysis.
• Our primary unit of observation is a grain price observed in a given
kebele in a given month.
• Final sample size consists of 233 kebeles x 12 months x 2.37 prices per
kebele per month (on average) yielding 6,633 kebele-month-price
observations.
10. Model
• Treat kebele as local economy.
• For price level (z-score) p of grain i in kebele k located in woreda w at time
(month) t:
𝑝𝑖𝑤𝑘𝑡 = 𝛼 + 𝛽1 𝑇𝑅𝐶𝑎𝑠ℎ 𝑤𝑘𝑡 + 𝛽2 𝑇𝑅𝐾𝑖𝑛𝑑 𝑤𝑘𝑡 + 𝑋 𝑤𝑘
′
𝛾 + 𝜃𝑖 + 𝛿𝑡 + 𝜇 𝑤 + 𝜀𝑖𝑤𝑘𝑡
𝑇𝑅𝐶𝑎𝑠ℎ 𝑤𝑘𝑡: the average cash transfer per household
𝑇𝑅𝐾𝑖𝑛𝑑 𝑤𝑘𝑡 is the average in-kind (food in kg) transfer per household
𝑋 𝑤𝑘: observable time-invariant characteristics of the food market
𝜃𝑖: grain type fixed effects
𝛿𝑡: calendar month fixed effects
𝜇 𝑤: woreda (district) fixed effects
𝜀𝑖𝑤𝑘𝑡: disturbance term
11. 11
Identification
• Three-way Fixed Effect model: commodity, month
and woreda
o Comparison of kebeles (sub-districts) within the
same woreda
• Results robust to kebele Fes
o Comparison of different calendar months
within a kebele
12. 12
Impact on grain prices (in z-scores)
(1)
Coeff 95% CI
Cash transfer (birr) -0.0002 -0.0007; 0.0004
In-kind (wheat & maize kg) -0.0034 -0.0082; 0.0015
Controls: grain type dummies, calendar month dummies, woreda fixed effects and kebele
market characteristics. N=6,633 price observations.
** p < 0.01, * p < 0.05. Standard errors clustered at the woreda level.
13. 13
Impact on grain prices (in z-scores)
(1) (2)
Coeff 95% CI Coeff 95% CI
Cash transfer (birr) -0.0002 -0.0007; 0.0004 -0.0001 -0.0007; 0.0004
In-kind (wheat & maize kg) -0.0034 -0.0082; 0.0015 - -
In-kind (wheat kg) - - -0.003 -0.008; 0.0022
In-kind (maize kg) - - -0.023** -0.0359; -0.0104
Controls: grain type dummies, calendar month dummies, woreda fixed effects and kebele
market characteristics. N=6,633 price observations.
** p < 0.01, * p < 0.05. Standard errors clustered at the woreda level.
14. Effect of an average effects
‘multiply the point estimates by the avg respective transfers & SD of prices’
• An average PSNP transfer of 0.10 kg of maize to each household in a kebele
reduces grain prices by 0.01 birr – or 0.13 %
estimate estimate
Average cash transfer (birr) -0.0178 -0.0161
Average in-kind (wheat & maize kg) -0.041 -
Average in-kind (wheat kg) - -0.036
Average in-kind (maize kg) - -0.010**
15. Results by cereal type
• Cash transfers have no effect on the prices of the five grains sold
in local markets: wheat, maize, teff, sorghum and barley.
• Wheat transfers lower the price of maize (the only a statistically
significant impact).
• But the magnitude of this effect is small:
o The effect of the average transfer = a reduction of 0.057 birr.
16. Results by remoteness
• Define remoteness as being 25 or 40km from the nearest city
with a population of 20,000.
• These markets have fewer traders & offer less choice
• Method: Interact remoteness dummy with transfer values
• Result: The effect of an average PSNP transfer of 0.10 kg of
maize to each household in a kebele is to reduce grain prices by
0.1 birr – or 1.2 %
17. Summary & conclusions
1. Cash transfers have no effect on food prices
2. There is some evidence that food transfers reduce food prices:
• Maize transfers reduce aggregate grain prices, wheat transfers reduce the
price of maize
• The negative effect of food transfers on food prices is larger in more
remote markets
• Given that food transfers are not re-sold, this is consistent with infra-
marginal transfers having the effect of reducing food demand in markets
that are not fully competitive or open
3. BUT the magnitudes of all these effects are trivially small, both in absolute
and percentage terms.
Our results suggests that worries about pecuniary externalities of
PSNP on local grain markets (through disincentives for local
producers or food price inflation for buyers of food) seem
unwarranted.
19. Identification
• Three-way Fixed Effect model: commodity, month and woreda
o Comparison of kebeles (sub-districts) within the same woreda
o (Results robust to kebele FEs; comparison of different calendar months
within a kebele)
• Concerns:
1. Payment modality (food or cash) is a choice made by program implementers,
and this choice may depend on observed prices
• These decisions are made at the woreda level -- prior to the annual
implementation of the PSNP
• Unobservable characteristics that led to the choice of payment type are
thus fixed over the twelve-month time period of our data and are
therefore captured in the woreda fixed effect.
2. Causality might run from food prices to the level of payments; administrators
allocated more employment to localities where food prices were higher or
households adjusted their labour efforts according to prices.
• These allocations are also fixed prior to the observation of prices as is the
amount of work participants can undertake. --> woreda fixed effects.
Editor's Notes
Do same localities receive both cash or food transfers within a year (/ same month)?
Yes
market chars: daily vs periodic market, size of the market (number of traders and food items), infrastructure surrounding the market (whether the market has permanent structures, access to good roads, cell phone networks and electricity) and distance to a nearest city.
infra-marginal: the amount of the in-kind transfer is less than what the household spends on the transferred good after the transfer.