Training and seed production spillovers and technology adoption: The case of seed producer groups in Nepal

Rice farmers in developing countries are often vulnerable to drought which can drastically reduce yields. Stress-tolerant rice varieties (STRVs) can mitigate this vulnerability, as can having a high seed replacement rate (SRR) and using best management practices (BMPs) in rice cultivation. However, access to high-quality STRV seed is often limited. This article uses propensity-score weighted regressions to estimate the spillover effects of seed producer groups (SPGs) in Nepal. It compares adoption rates of STRVs and BMPs, and the SRR of non-member households in villages with SPGs and in villages adjacent to these compared to other control villages in the region. According to a range of results from weighted models, non-members in SPG villages and adjacent villages are 24-32 percentage points more likely to have adopted an STRV compared to non-members in control villages. Non-members in SPG and adjacent villages have a higher SRR, and households in SPG villages are more likely to use some BMPs compared to non-members in control villages. Results suggest that SPGs have the potential to improve the resilience of communities in the face of climate change.