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Language Barriers, Technology Adoption and Productivity: Evidence from Agriculture in India

Author

Listed:
  • Apoorv Gupta
  • Jacopo Ponticelli
  • Andrea Tesei
Abstract
We study the effect of language barriers on the ability of farmers to access information about agricultural technologies in rural areas of India. We use call- level data from a government-sponsored call center for agricultural advice offered in different languages across Indian states. Exploiting differences in the language spoken by farmers and call center advisors, we document that language barriers limit the adoption of modern agricultural technologies—such as high-yielding variety seeds. We find no impact of language barriers on agricultural productivity within five years from introduction of call centers, although small but significant differences arise in the longer run.

Suggested Citation

  • Apoorv Gupta & Jacopo Ponticelli & Andrea Tesei, 2020. "Language Barriers, Technology Adoption and Productivity: Evidence from Agriculture in India," NBER Working Papers 27192, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    • Handle: RePEc:nbr:nberwo:27192
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    2. Preusse, Verena & Wollni, Meike, 2021. "Adoption of sustainable agricultural practices in the context of urbanisation and environmental stress – Evidence from farmers in the rural-urban interface of Bangalore, India," 2021 Annual Meeting, August 1-3, Austin, Texas 312690, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association.
    3. Vanden Eynde, Oliver & Wren-Lewis, Liam, 2021. "Complementarities in Infrastructure: Evidence from Rural India," CEPREMAP Working Papers (Docweb) 2104, CEPREMAP.
    4. Emerick, Kyle & De Janvry, Alain & Sadoulet, Elisabeth & Dar, Manzoor & Wiseman, Eleanor, 2020. "Private Input Suppliers as Information Agents for Technology Adoption in Agriculture," CEPR Discussion Papers 15584, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.
    5. Matheus C. Sampaio & Jose Renato Haas Ornelas, 2024. "Payment Technology Complementarities and their Consequences in the Banking Sector: evidence from Brazil’s Pix," Working Papers Series 600, Central Bank of Brazil, Research Department.
    6. Chowdhury, Shyamal & Smits, Joeri & Sun, Qigang, 2020. "Contract structure, time preference, and technology adoption," GLO Discussion Paper Series 633, Global Labor Organization (GLO).
    7. Abidoye, Babatunde & Dissanayake, Sahan T.M. & Jacobson, Sarah A., 2021. "Seeds of Learning: Uncertainty and Technology Adoption in an Ecosystem-Based Adaptation Game," Applied Economics Teaching Resources (AETR), Agricultural and Applied Economics Association, vol. 3(3), September.
    8. Hanna Godlewska-Majkowska & Agnieszka Komor, 2021. "Energy as a Factor of Investment Attractiveness of Regions for Agricultural Enterprises," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(9), pages 1-24, May.
    9. Ou, Susan & Xiong, Heyu, 2021. "Mass persuasion and the ideological origins of the Chinese Cultural Revolution," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 153(C).
    10. Chowdhury, Shyamal & Smits, Joeri & Sun, Qigang, 2020. "Contract Structure, Time Preference, and Technology Adoption," IZA Discussion Papers 13590, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    11. Mensah,Justice Tei & Hirfrfot,Kibrom Tafere & Abay,Kibrom A., 2022. "Saving Lives through Technology : Mobile Phones and Infant Mortality," Policy Research Working Paper Series 9978, The World Bank.

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    JEL classification:

    • O33 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Technological Change: Choices and Consequences; Diffusion Processes
    • O4 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Growth and Aggregate Productivity
    • Q16 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Agriculture - - - R&D; Agricultural Technology; Biofuels; Agricultural Extension Services
    • Q55 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Environmental Economics: Technological Innovation

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