The analysis of the differential impacts of multiple improved technologies has largely accounted for selective adoption, considering either the full application of a bundle or its individual components. The impacts of adopting agricultural technology bundles on household welfare are less understood when considering a partial adoption of either the entire bundle or its individual components on a portion of crop area. We assess simultaneous adoption and the impacts of multiple improved technologies promoted as a bundle and recommended for legume intensification systems for smallholder farmers in Ethiopia. We use DNA fingerprinting data to precisely identify our key treatment—“adoption of improved bean varieties”—in this study. Using an endogenous multivariate treatment effects model, we found significant positive impacts of adopting bundled interventions on agricultural incomes and household food security but vulnerability to food insecurity persists for many households. We find that growing improved varieties with fertilizers increased household agricultural revenue, allowing for more legume consumption and enhancing their likelihood of achieving adequate food consumption and food security outcomes; however, the vulnerability to food insecurity of the adopters remains high due to pre-existing resource degradation issues. Given the similarity in production contexts in Sub-Saharan Africa, our results provide perspective for similar development interventions. We use the results of our analysis to discuss potential policy implications and programs to support technological intensification among smallholder farmers.

This study examines the extent to which wheat varieties supplied by the formal seed system align with the varieties demanded and used by farmers in Ethiopia. The framework of stated and revealed preferences drawn from the consumer preference theory is used to analyze farmer demand for different wheat varieties. We used official data from the formal seed sector and representative survey data from wheat farm households in Ethiopia. The survey data allow to contrast the farmer reported varietal use with genotyping by sequencing (also known as DNA fingerprinting). Farmers’ reliance on informal seed sources and own saved seed, among others, contributes to the misidentification of the varieties they grow. Consequently, farmers are likely to misinform the formal seed demand assessment leading to either an over- or underestimation of actual seed demand for specific wheat varieties. Genotyping by sequencing, as opposed to farmer reports, established the persistence of old varieties. This also implies vulnerability of wheat production to disease dynamics depending on the longevity of disease resistance by the variety in use. Apart from narrowing the gap between the actual and stated demand and ensuring timely replacement of wheat varieties, genotyping-assisted estimates can save seed carry-over cost. Genotyping by sequencing is increasingly used as the new benchmark and gold standard for identifying and tracking the adoption of crop varieties. The technique has potential to enhance the performance of the seed sector through effective planning that can optimize resource commitments and accelerate the rate of varietal replacement.

We assess simultaneous adoption and impacts of multiple improved technologies promoted as a bundle and recommended for legumes intensification systems for smallholder farmers in Ethiopia. We use DNA fingerprinting data to precisely identify our key treatment - “adoption to improved bean varieties” in the study. The results show significant positive impacts of adopting bundled interventions on, agricultural incomes and household food security but vulnerability to food insecurity persists. We find that growing improved varieties with fertilizers increased household agricultural revenue, allowing for more legume consumption and enhancing their likelihood of achieving adequate food consumption and food security outcomes. However, the vulnerability to food insecurity of the adopters remains high due to pre-existing resource degradation issues. Given similarity in production contexts in Sub Saharan Africa, our results provide perspective for similar development interventions. We use the results of our analysis to discuss potential policy implications and programmes to support technology intensification among small holder farmers.