Smallholder Demand for Maize Hybrids in Zambia: How Far do Seed Subsidies Reach?
研究了赞比亚杂交玉米种子补贴计划的选择性偏差，发现补贴更倾向于土地多、资产多、贫困率低的农户，未能有效覆盖高需求的小农户，揭示了该计划的社会成本。
Abstract We add to an emerging body of literature on input subsidies in A frica south of the S ahara. Our analysis focuses on demand for seed, characterising smallholders with a high predicted demand for hybrid seed who were not reached by the subsidy programme. We use cross‐sectional data from the 2010 agricultural season and an instrumented control function approach to test the hypothesis that the subsidy on hybrid maize seed in Z ambia is selectively biased. Consistent with other literature, we find that the subsidy is a recursive determinant of seed demand, but in 2010, its recipients had more land, more assets, and lower poverty rates. Findings illustrate the social costs of the programme as currently designed and highlight the need to build alternative supply channels if poorer maize growers are to grow hybrid seed.