Group-based ICT extension support systems (Go Digital Peru)

We investigated how to make group-based ICT extension work more effective and efficient. The aim was to understand whether different types of result-based incentives improve focal point efforts and whether this effort translates into increased farmers’ participation, knowledge and adoption of improved agricultural practices, and ultimately crop yields.
Between September 2024 and August 205 (main potato season), we organized 1,242 farmers in groups in 102 communities in the highlands of the Provinces of Sanchez Carrión, and Pataz (La Libertad region, northern Peru). We assigned them to three treatment arms: (a) individual incentives for focal points, (b) social incentives for the community, and (c) no incentives. Three extension officers from the implementing partner (Asociacion Pataz) served as technical advisors for the platform, supported by CIP experts. We periodically submitted flyers with information on potato production best practices via the WhatsApp platform and responded to group questions. We conducted baseline and endline surveys and four rounds of telephone tests to measure farmers’ knowledge gains. To understand potential spillover effects, we identified 187 additional farmers who lived in the same communities but were not part of the WhatsApp platform.
Results show that the Social Incentive successfully mobilized initial engagement in the WhatsApp platform, increasing interactions (+4.15 more interactions) and knowledge (2.7% higher test scores). Downstream effects on other agricultural outcomes were limited within the study’s timeframe. Heterogeneous treatment and spillover effects suggest that the intervention may have differential benefits for women and resource-constrained farmers.
The findings suggest that, while social incentives are a promising tool for low-cost mobilization of farmers’ groups, achieving more profound impact on productivity requires sustained engagement and longer time horizons to allow knowledge to consolidate into adoption of improved agricultural practices.