Information as a solution to price disparity in agricultural markets: evidence from a pilot experiment among small scale irish potato farmers in Musanze District, Rwanda

This study seeks to investigate the role of price information in reducing the price disparities of Irish potatoes among small scale farmers in Musanze, Rwanda. A baseline survey is first undertaken to establish the characteristics of the farmers as well as the degree of price disparities. It then applies a pilot randomized control experiment using three treatment and three control groups where the intervention is sending price information to farmers via the mobile phone. The results show that the effect of the treatment on price disparities was insignificant which is mainly attributed to the low take-up rate for price information. With the treatment effect when treatment is combined with discussion in village meetings being significant at 10%, the study concludes that price information can reduce price disparities.