Knowledge of vitamin A deficiency and crop adoption: Evidence from a field experiment in Mozambique
通过随机实验评估针对女性农民的培训干预，发现传授维生素A缺乏知识和橙色甘薯种植烹饪技能能显著提升相关知识并促进作物采用，效果持续一年以上。
Abstract Vitamin A deficiency is a widespread public health problem in Sub‐Saharan Africa. This paper analyzes the impact of an intervention fighting vitamin A deficiency through the promotion of production and consumption of orange‐fleshed sweet potato (OFSP). We conducted a randomized evaluation of OFSP‐related training to female farmers in Mozambique, who were also the primary caretakers of preschool children. The treatment consisted of group and individual‐level training where basic knowledge about nutrition was taught, and planting and cooking skills related specifically to OFSP were developed. We find considerable increases in nutrition‐related knowledge, as well as knowledge about cooking and planting OFSP, which persist after more than a year. We also observe clear evidence of adoption of OFSP for production in the short‐ and medium‐run, which spreads through social networks.