Through the IFAD/IFPRI Partnership, we are working with the Northern Rural Growth Program (NRGP) to examine issues of market information and its effects on farmers’ welfare. In collaboration with NRGP and researchers from the University of Ghana, IFPRI has carried out a baseline survey that quantifies input use, agricultural production, marketing, storage, sources of information, access to credit, and farmer perceptions regarding changes in the agricultural sector, access to public services, and constraints on productivity.
Following the baseline study, the next phase of this study will use a randomized-control-trial to evaluate the impact of market information delivered through mobile phones. A randomly selected set of respondents will be given improved access to market information in the form of a subscription to a price information service provided by Esoko. This study will evaluate the impact of the market information on prices, agricultural sales, and income, as well as measuring intermediate and qualitative measures such as use and satisfaction with the service.