International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), P.O. Box 28565, Kampala, Uganda; International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Kampala, Uganda; Department of Agricultural Economics and Rural Development, Georg-August University of Goettingen, 37073 Goettingen, Germany; The World Vegetable Center (AVRDC), P.O. Box 10, Diluti, Arusha, Tanzania
Kabunga, N.S., International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), P.O. Box 28565, Kampala, Uganda; Dubois, T., International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Kampala, Uganda, The World Vegetable Center (AVRDC), P.O. Box 10, Diluti, Arusha, Tanzania; Qaim, M., Department of Agricultural Economics and Rural Development, Georg-August University of Goettingen, 37073 Goettingen, Germany
While tissue culture (TC) technology for vegetative plant propagation is gradually gaining in importance in Africa, rigorous assessment of broader welfare effects for adopting smallholder farm households is lacking. Using survey data and accounting for selection bias in technology adoption, we analyze the impact of TC banana technology on household income and food security in Kenya. To assess food security outcomes, we employ the Household Food Insecurity Access Scale (HFIAS) - a tool that has not been used for impact assessment before. Estimates of treatment-effects models show that TC banana adoption, combined with improved crop management, causes considerable increases in farm and household income. Technology adoption also reduces relative food insecurity in a significant way. These results indicate that TC technology can be welfare enhancing for adopting farm households. Adoption should be further promoted through upscaling appropriate technology delivery systems. © 2014 Elsevier Ltd.