Yakubu Abdul?Salam|Euan Phimister
Efficiency Effects of Access to Information on Small?scale Agriculture: Empirical Evidence from Uganda using Stochastic Frontier and <scp>IRT</scp> Models
James Hutton Institute|University of Aberdeen
abstract low power home electrical items radios mobile phones televisions important source agricultural information smallscale farmers developing countries empirically test effects access information items efficiency agriculture formulate stochastic frontier model augmented technical efficiency model controls index capturing farmers ability access information index constructed 2parameter item response theory irt model based farmers access electrical items using six rounds panel data smallscale farmers uganda find empirical evidence significant positive relationship farmer ability access information farm efficiency also evidence size effects larger literate hence better educated farmers greater access information also appears associated increased variance inefficiency output although form increased variances underpinned low risk lower efficiency output realisations high likelihood higher efficiency output realisations findings imply access limited quantities electricity needed power electrical items positive farm efficiency effects hence importance offgrid electricity eg standalone solar panels smallscale farmers typically isolated communities developing countries