@article{Barrett:127212,
      recid = {127212},
      author = {Barrett, Christopher B. and Moser, Christine M. and  Barison, Joeli and McHugh, Oloro V.},
      title = {Better Technology, Better Plots or Better Farmers?  Identifying Changes In Productivity and Risk Among Malagasy  Rice Farmers},
      address = {2003-06},
      number = {642-2016-44061},
      series = {WP 2003-19},
      pages = {37},
      year = {2003},
      abstract = {It is often difficult to determine the extent to which  observed output gains are due to a new technology itself,  rather than to the skill of the farmer or the quality of  the plot on which the new technology is tried. This  attribution problem becomes especially important when  technologies are not embodied in purchased inputs but  result instead from changed farmer cultivation practices.  We introduce a method for properly attributing observed  productivity and risk changes among new production methods,  farmers and plots by controlling for farmer and plot  heterogeneity using differential production and yield risk  functions. Results from Madagascar show that the new system  of rice intensification (SRI) is indeed a superior  technology. Although most observed productivity gains  appear due to farmer aptitude, the technology alone  generates estimated average output gains of more than 37  percent. These findings also help resolve several  outstanding puzzles associated with observed low and  incomplete uptake and high rates of disadoption of SRI in  spite of the technology’s manifest superiority.},
      url = {http://ageconsearch.umn.edu/record/127212},
      doi = {https://doi.org/10.22004/ag.econ.127212},
}