Knowledge of vitamin A deficiency and crop adoption: evidence from a field experiment in Mozambique

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Abstract

Vitamin A deficiency is a widespread public health problem in Sub-Saharan Africa. This paper analyzes the impact of an intervention fighting vitamin A deficiency through the promotion of production and consumption of orange-fleshed sweet potato (OFSP). We conducted a randomized evaluation of OFSP-related training to female farmers in Mozambique, who were also the primary caretakers of preschool children. The treatment consisted of group and individual-level training where basic knowledge about nutrition was taught, and planting and cooking skills related specifically to OFSP were developed. We find considerable increases in nutrition-related knowledge, as well as knowledge about cooking and planting OFSP, which persist after more than a year. We also observe clear evidence of adoption of OFSP for production in the short- and medium-run, which spreads through social networks.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)175-190
Number of pages16
JournalAgricultural Economics (United Kingdom)
Volume51
Issue number2
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Mar 2020

Keywords

  • Africa
  • Mozambique
  • orange-fleshed sweet potato
  • randomized evaluation
  • vitamin A

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