Rice Biotechnology: Helping or Hurting Farmers in the Philippines

Emilie Zentner

SS-AAEA Journal of Agricultural Economics, 2015, vol. 2015, 13

Abstract: Rice is a staple crop in developing countries in Asia. By examining resource-poor and smallholder rice farmers in the Philippines, this article studies the impact of rice biotechnology, by analyzing if adoption of hybrid rice varieties results in improved farmer conditions. Using a propensity score matching approach, the analysis compares the differences in total production between adopters of hybrid seed and non-adopters, while accounting for self-selection bias and the possibility of endogenous factors. From this analysis, it is not clear if rice farmers benefit from hybrid rice seed adoption, as there is a consistent change of sign in farmer benefits between seasons. In the wet season, there is a negative difference in total rice production between adopters of hybrid seed and non-adopters; whereas in the dry season, this difference is positive. Future studies examining farmer benefits of technological adoption should employ a matching approach to correctly compare the effects on adopters and non-adopters.

Keywords: Crop Production/Industries; Farm Management; Research and Development/Tech Change/Emerging Technologies (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2015
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:ags:ssaaea:232753

DOI: 10.22004/ag.econ.232753

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