Digital extension, price risk, and farm performance: experimental evidence from Nigeria

Despite decades of investment in agricultural extension, technology adoption among farmers and productivity growth Sub-Saharan Africa remain slow. Among other shortcomings, extension systems often make recommendations that do not account for price risk or spatial heterogeneity farmers' growing conditions. However, little is known about the effectiveness approaches nutrient management consider these issues. We analyze impact access to site-specific information on expected returns, provided through a digital decision support tool, maize production. implement randomized controlled trial smallholders belt northern Nigeria. use three waves annual panel data estimate immediate longer term effects two different treatments: with without complementary variability output prices returns. find improve fertilizer practices yields but necessarily increase use. In addition, we are accompanied by additional returns induce larger investments persist beyond first year. magnitudes small: only incremental increases net revenues over treatment years.