Nudges in a simulated environment and their effects on the use of resilience-enhancing technologies

For small holding farmers, learning about new technologies often means risking household resources. This paper reports on efforts to overcome this barrier using a tablet-based game. The game allows farmers to experiment with drought tolerant maize and index insurance in a low-cost environment. In a sample of 235 farmers in Manica Province, Mozambique, we find that experiencing drought in one round of the game is associated with a statistically significantly increase in adoption of the technologies in subsequent rounds. Highlighting the effects of drought on the farmer’s family and community, also increased adoption of the risk management technologies.