Do Different NGOs Perform Differently?
Author InfoLabarta, Ricardo A Swinton, Scott M. Abstract This paper analyzes how different characteristics of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) working as extension providers affect the del ivery of agricultural technologies to farmers. Using farm level data from 436 Nicaraguan bean growers, we evaluate how the institutional characteristics of the NGOs that implement farmer field schools (FFS) affect their impacts on farmer choices of pest management inputs, their adoption of integrated pest management (IPM) and resulting net revenues and pesticide exposure from bean production. After controlling for endogeneity of participation in IPM training programs and for a clustered and stratified sample design, results reveal that institutional focus, expertise in IPM and the capacity of extension providers implementing FFS significantly influence FFS impacts on input choices and adoption of IPM. FFS participation by itself has no influence on farmers pest management decisions or their net
