Rice Biotechnology: Helping or Hurting Farmers in the Philippines
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Rice is a staple crop in developing countries in Asia. By examining resource-poor and smallholder rice
farmers in the Philippines, this article studies the impact of rice biotechnology, by analyzing if adoption
of hybrid rice varieties results in improved farmer conditions. Using a propensity score matching
approach, the analysis compares the differences in total production between adopters of hybrid seed and
non-adopters, while accounting for self-selection bias and the possibility of endogenous factors. From
this analysis, it is not clear if rice farmers benefit from hybrid rice seed adoption, as there is a consistent
change of sign in farmer benefits between seasons. In the wet season, there is a negative difference in
total rice production between adopters of hybrid seed and non-adopters; whereas in the dry season, this
difference is positive. Future studies examining farmer benefits of technological adoption should employ
a matching approach to correctly compare the effects on adopters and non-adopters.