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APA citation
Paudel, G. P., Gartaula, H., Rahut, D. B., Justice, S., Krupnik, T. J., & McDonald, A. J. (2023). The contributions of scale-appropriate farm mechanization to hunger and poverty reduction: evidence from smallholder systems in Nepal. Journal of Economics and Development, 25(1), 37–61. https://doi.org/10.1108/jed-10-2022-0201
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Abstract
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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 (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of zero hunger (SDG2) and no poverty (SDG1). Design/methodology/approach: Propensity score matching (PSM) and doubly robust inverse probability-weighted regression adjusted (IPWRA) 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: he 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.
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Journal
Journal of Economics and Development
Journal volume
25
Journal issue
1
Article number
Place of Publication
Vietnam
Publisher
Emerald Publishing
Donor or Funder
United States Agency for International Development (USAID)
Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF)
One CGIAR
Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF)
One CGIAR
Related Datasets
CGIAR
Initiative
Transforming Agrifood Systems in South Asia
Impact Area
Nutrition, health & food security
Poverty reduction, livelihoods & jobs
Poverty reduction, livelihoods & jobs
Action Area
Resilient Agrifood Systems