2021 Fiscal Year Research-status Report
Using social networks to identify seed farmers for agricultural technology diffusion: A randomized controlled trial in Vietnam
| Project/Area Number |
21K20150
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| Research Institution | Hiroshima University |
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Principal Investigator |
TRAN ANH・DUC 広島大学, 人間社会科学研究科(国), 助教 (10868467)
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| Project Period (FY) |
2021-08-30 – 2023-03-31
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| Keywords | social network / technology diffusion / farmers / RCT / Vietnam |
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| Outline of Annual Research Achievements |
In FY2021, I could conduct only a few preparation steps for the proposed randomized controlled trial (RCT), due to the severe situation of the Covid-19 pandemic at the study sites in Vietnam and the strict travel restriction.
Adapting to the difficult situation caused by the pandemic, I diversified the research activities which incorporated studies using secondary observed data. This effort has resulted in a new publication in an international peer-reviewed journal.
Finally, I collaborated with other colleagues to conduct an RCT in Sri Lanka which leveraged the social role of the lead farmers to improve the vaccination ratio of cattle. This experiment, which is closely related to the overall objective of my proposal, has been completed with positive preliminary results.
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| Current Status of Research Progress |
Current Status of Research Progress
3: Progress in research has been slightly delayed.
Reason
The progress of this research is delayed due to the severe outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic in Vietnam and travel restrictions in both Japan and Vietnam in FY2021.
In detail, because of the dramatic increase in the number of Covid-19 cases in Vietnam, social gatherings and domestic travel among provinces in Vietnam were strictly prohibited. This situation prevented me and my partner organizations to conduct the necessary first steps of the proposed RCT in 2021 including the baseline survey and the treatment assignment.
Although I planned to travel to the study sites in Vietnam to initialize several first steps of the experiments, the plan was postponed because of unavailable flights and extremely strict immigration (and re-immigration) policies in both Vietnam and Japan.
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| Strategy for Future Research Activity |
I am now accelerating the research activities to meet the objective of the proposed research plan.
At the beginning of FY2022, when the flights to Vietnam become available and immigration policies are relieved, I plan to travel to Vietnam to conduct the baseline survey and treatment assignment - the fundamental first step of the RCT. This activity is scheduled for April and May 2022.
In September and October 2022, in collaboration with the local partner organization, I will conduct the follow-up survey. The survey will collect data required for the impact evaluation of the RCT.
With the raw data available, I will focus on data analysis and publication of the research results in the rest of FY2022. Thus, the research can be completed as of March 2023.
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| Causes of Carryover |
The progress of the research was slightly delayed due to the severe outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic in Vietnam. With prohibited social gathering and domestic travel restrictions, the baseline survey and treatment assignment of the RCT was postponed in FY 2021.
I also could not travel to Vietnam to initialize the first steps of the RCT due to unavailable flights and strict immigration policies.
These steps of the RCT, which were scheduled for FY2021, will be implemented at the beginning of FY2022.
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