Technology adoption and the multiple dimensions of food security: the case of maize in Tanzania

Emiliano Magrini () and Mauro Vigani ()

LICOS Discussion Papers from LICOS - Centre for Institutions and Economic Performance, KU Leuven

Abstract: The paper analyses the impact of agricultural technologies on the four pillars of food security for maize farmers in Tanzania. Relying on matching techniques, we use a nationally representative dataset collected over the period 2010/2011 to estimate the causal effects of using improved seeds and inorganic fertilizers on food availability, access, utilization, and stability. Overall, the technologies have a positive and significant impact on food security, but substantial differences between the pillars are observed. Improved seeds show a stronger effect on food availability and access, while - in terms of utilization - both technologies increase the diet diversity and only improved seeds reduce the dependence on staple food. Finally, improved seeds reduce the household vulnerability while inorganic fertilizers guarantee higher resilience. The study supports the idea that the relationship between agricultural technologies and food security is a complex phenomenon, which cannot be limited to the use of welfare indexes as proxy for food security.

Keywords: Food security; technology adoption; propensity score matching; Tanzania (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q12 Q16 Q18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2014
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-agr and nep-dev
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (13)

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http://feb.kuleuven.be/drc/licos/publications/dp/DP352_full.pdf

Related works:
Journal Article: Technology adoption and the multiple dimensions of food security: the case of maize in Tanzania (2016)
Working Paper: Technology adoption and the multiple dimensions of food security: the case of maize in Tanzania (2015)
Working Paper: Technology adoption and the multiple dimensions of food security: the case of maize in Tanzania (2014)
Working Paper: Technology adoption and the multiple dimensions of food security: the case of maize in Tanzania (2014)
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:lic:licosd:35214

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