The contributions of scale-appropriate farm mechanization to hunger and poverty reduction: evidence from smallholder systems in Nepal
Purpose – This study examines the adoption drivers of scale-appropriate mechanization in Nepal's maize-based farming systems. The authors also assess the contribution of scale-appropriate mechanization to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of zero hunger (SDG2) and no pover...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Emerald Publishing
2023-02-01
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| Series: | Journal of Economics and Development |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/JED-10-2022-0201/full/pdf |
| _version_ | 1797788731179008000 |
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| author | Gokul P. Paudel Hom Gartaula Dil Bahadur Rahut Scott E. Justice Timothy J. Krupnik Andrew J. McDonald |
| author_facet | Gokul P. Paudel Hom Gartaula Dil Bahadur Rahut Scott E. Justice Timothy J. Krupnik Andrew J. McDonald |
| author_sort | Gokul P. Paudel |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Purpose – This study examines the adoption drivers of scale-appropriate mechanization in Nepal's maize-based farming systems. The authors also assess the contribution of scale-appropriate mechanization to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of zero hunger (SDG2) and no poverty (SDG1). Design/methodology/approach – Propensity score matching and doubly robust inverse probability-weighted regression adjusted methods were applied to estimate the effects of mini-tiller adoption. These methods control the biases that arise from observed heterogeneities between mini-tillers users and nonusers. Findings – The study findings show that farm size, labor shortages, draft animal scarcity, market proximity, household assets and household heads' educational level influence the adoption of mechanization in Nepal. Mechanized farms exhibited enhanced maize productivity, profits and household food self-sufficiency. Reduced depth and severity of poverty were also observed. Nevertheless, these effects were not uniform; very small farms (≤0.41 ha) facing acute labor shortages benefited the most. Research limitations/implications – The study results suggest that policymakers in developing nations like Nepal may wish to expand their emphasis on scale-appropriate mechanization to improve farm productivity and household food security, reduce poverty and contribute to the SDGs. Originality/value – This first-of-its-kind study establishes the causal effects between scale-appropriate farm mechanization and SDG1 (no poverty) and SDG2 (zero hunger) in a developing nation. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-13T01:40:43Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-5e0a4cfb0ff24f01a32a05594f7674ec |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1859-0020 2632-5330 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-13T01:40:43Z |
| publishDate | 2023-02-01 |
| publisher | Emerald Publishing |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Economics and Development |
| spelling | doaj.art-5e0a4cfb0ff24f01a32a05594f7674ec2023-07-03T14:24:17ZengEmerald PublishingJournal of Economics and Development1859-00202632-53302023-02-01251376110.1108/JED-10-2022-0201The contributions of scale-appropriate farm mechanization to hunger and poverty reduction: evidence from smallholder systems in NepalGokul P. Paudel0Hom Gartaula1Dil Bahadur Rahut2Scott E. Justice3Timothy J. Krupnik4Andrew J. McDonald5Institute for Environmental Economics and World Trade, Leibniz University Hannover, Hannover, GermanyInternational Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT), New Delhi, IndiaAsian Development Bank Institute, Tokyo, JapanAgricultural Mechanization Consultant, Yangon, MyanmarInternational Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT), Dhaka, BangladeshSchool of Integrative Plant Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USAPurpose – This study examines the adoption drivers of scale-appropriate mechanization in Nepal's maize-based farming systems. The authors also assess the contribution of scale-appropriate mechanization to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of zero hunger (SDG2) and no poverty (SDG1). Design/methodology/approach – Propensity score matching and doubly robust inverse probability-weighted regression adjusted methods were applied to estimate the effects of mini-tiller adoption. These methods control the biases that arise from observed heterogeneities between mini-tillers users and nonusers. Findings – The study findings show that farm size, labor shortages, draft animal scarcity, market proximity, household assets and household heads' educational level influence the adoption of mechanization in Nepal. Mechanized farms exhibited enhanced maize productivity, profits and household food self-sufficiency. Reduced depth and severity of poverty were also observed. Nevertheless, these effects were not uniform; very small farms (≤0.41 ha) facing acute labor shortages benefited the most. Research limitations/implications – The study results suggest that policymakers in developing nations like Nepal may wish to expand their emphasis on scale-appropriate mechanization to improve farm productivity and household food security, reduce poverty and contribute to the SDGs. Originality/value – This first-of-its-kind study establishes the causal effects between scale-appropriate farm mechanization and SDG1 (no poverty) and SDG2 (zero hunger) in a developing nation.https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/JED-10-2022-0201/full/pdfSustainable Development GoalsSustainable agricultural mechanizationAgricultural productivity and profitabilityHousehold food securityPovertyImpact heterogeneity |
| spellingShingle | Gokul P. Paudel Hom Gartaula Dil Bahadur Rahut Scott E. Justice Timothy J. Krupnik Andrew J. McDonald The contributions of scale-appropriate farm mechanization to hunger and poverty reduction: evidence from smallholder systems in Nepal Journal of Economics and Development Sustainable Development Goals Sustainable agricultural mechanization Agricultural productivity and profitability Household food security Poverty Impact heterogeneity |
| title | The contributions of scale-appropriate farm mechanization to hunger and poverty reduction: evidence from smallholder systems in Nepal |
| title_full | The contributions of scale-appropriate farm mechanization to hunger and poverty reduction: evidence from smallholder systems in Nepal |
| title_fullStr | The contributions of scale-appropriate farm mechanization to hunger and poverty reduction: evidence from smallholder systems in Nepal |
| title_full_unstemmed | The contributions of scale-appropriate farm mechanization to hunger and poverty reduction: evidence from smallholder systems in Nepal |
| title_short | The contributions of scale-appropriate farm mechanization to hunger and poverty reduction: evidence from smallholder systems in Nepal |
| title_sort | contributions of scale appropriate farm mechanization to hunger and poverty reduction evidence from smallholder systems in nepal |
| topic | Sustainable Development Goals Sustainable agricultural mechanization Agricultural productivity and profitability Household food security Poverty Impact heterogeneity |
| url | https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/JED-10-2022-0201/full/pdf |
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