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With research staff from more than 70 countries, and offices across the globe, IFPRI provides research-based policy solutions to sustainably reduce poverty and end hunger and malnutrition in developing countries.

researcher spotlight

Kinya Kaibung’a

Kinya Kaibung’a is a Research Officer with the Development Strategies and Governance Unit, based in Nairobi, Kenya. She has a keen interest in leveraging machine learning, AI, and other cutting-edge technologies to boost climate resilience and food security in smart agriculture systems.

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Since 1975, IFPRI’s research has been informing policies and development programs to improve food security, nutrition, and livelihoods around the world.

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India

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Publications

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Journal Article

Farmers’ preferences and willingness to accept incentives for adopting sustainable agricultural practices in India

2026TM, Kiran Kumara; Birthal, Pratap Singh; Veettil, Prakashan Chellattan; Meena, Dinesh Chand; Kumar, Anjani
Details

Farmers’ preferences and willingness to accept incentives for adopting sustainable agricultural practices in India

Sustainable agricultural practices are increasingly promoted to mitigate the impacts of climate change on agriculture. However, adoption at the farm level remains limited, often due to trade-offs between tradable and non-tradable ecosystem services. This study examines farmers’ preferences for resource conservation practices and their willingness to accept incentive payments for their adoption in the Indian state of Punjab, where rice has become the most important crop despite its cultivation being unsupportive of its climatic conditions. Following the discrete choice experiment approach, the study included 500 farmers with the following attributes: ecosystem service benefits, income compensation, and carbon credit price. The findings reveal that farmers showed a strong preference for adopting improved farm practices. Saving water and avoiding residue burning are the two most preferred ecosystem benefits by the farmers. However, farmers’ preferences are strongly influenced by factors including carbon credit prices, income compensation, socioeconomic characteristics, and their risk aversion capacity. The estimation of extended random parameter logit (RPL) indicated that switching to direct rice seeding requires compensation of Rs. 29,223/ha and Rs. 29,178/ha for reallocating area from rice to legumes, ceteris paribus. These findings are crucial for policymakers in restructuring the existing incentive structure to accelerate the adoption of resource conservation practices in India.

Year published

2026

Authors

TM, Kiran Kumara; Birthal, Pratap Singh; Veettil, Prakashan Chellattan; Meena, Dinesh Chand; Kumar, Anjani

Citation

TM, Kiran Kumara; Birthal, Pratap Singh; Veettil, Prakashan Chellattan; Meena, Dinesh Chand; and Kumar, Anjani. 2026. Farmers’ preferences and willingness to accept incentives for adopting sustainable agricultural practices in India. Discover Sustainability 7(1): 465. https://doi.org/10.1007/s43621-026-02843-4

Country/Region

India

Keywords

Asia; Southern Asia; Capacity Building; Farmers; Sustainable Agriculture; Good Agricultural Practices; Incentives; Logit Analysis

Language

English

Access/Licence

Open AccessCC-BY-NC-ND-4.0

Links

https://doi.org/10.1007/s43621-026-02843-4 Source record

Record type

Journal Article

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Journal Article

Do precision land management technologies improve farm efficiency? Evidence from laser land levelling in India

2026Kapoor, Shreya; Kumar, Anjani
Details

Do precision land management technologies improve farm efficiency? Evidence from laser land levelling in India

Context: The Indian agriculture system is increasingly constrained by resources and climate vulnerability, with rapid groundwater depletion. This is creating an urgency for adoption of resource-efficient agricultural technologies to address sustainability challenges in intensively irrigated systems. Laser land levelling (LLL) has emerged as a prominent resource and precision land management technology. Objective: The study tries to examine the key determinants of LLL adoption and its impact on paddy productivity in Punjab. Secondly, the study also evaluates the technical efficiency of LLL in paddy production. Finally, we examine heterogeneity in technical efficiency outcomes separately for marginal landholders to assess whether the efficiency gains from LLL adoption vary by farm size. Methods: Primary survey data is collected from 885 farmers from 12 districts in Punjab, India. The sample comprises of 527 (60%) adopters and 358 (40%) non-adopters of LLL. We use a probit model to identify the key drivers of adoption and derive the inverse mills ratio for correcting the sample selection bias. The, we use propensity score matching to estimate causal impact of LLL adoption on paddy yield. Finally, we apply the stochastic production frontier framework with sample-selection correction to evaluate the technical efficiency levels. Results and Conclusions: The findings highlight that LLL adoption increases paddy yield by 2.64 quintals/acre. Efficiency estimates show that adopters achieve approximately 3% higher technical efficiency compared to non-adopters. Moreover, adoption decisions are influenced by structural and asset-related factors, including education, landholding size, and ownership of tractors and pumpsets. Notably, efficiency gains are larger for the marginal farmers, suggesting that smaller landholders may have greater scope of improvements from LLL adoption. Significance: This study contributes two fold: It provides a new empirical evidence on the determinants and impact of LLL adoption in paddy cultivation. Secondly, we develop an integrated econometric framework to address selection bias and evaluate efficiency outcomes of LLL adoption. The study highlights the multidimensional benefits of LLL in enhancing productivity and efficiency, supporting its promotion as a climate-smart technology in improving resource-use efficiency and reducing groundwater stress in rice-based farming systems in India.

Year published

2026

Authors

Kapoor, Shreya; Kumar, Anjani

Citation

Kapoor, Shreya; and Kumar, Anjani. 2026. Do precision land management technologies improve farm efficiency? Evidence from laser land levelling in India. Agricultural Systems 239(December 2026): 104927. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agsy.2026.104927

Country/Region

India

Keywords

Asia; Southern Asia; Capacity Building; Land Management; Farms; Efficiency; Land Levelling Equipment; Land Levelling; Precision Agriculture; Rice Fields; Rice; Stochastic Models

Language

English

Access/Licence

Open AccessCC-BY-4.0

Links

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agsy.2026.104927 Source record

Record type

Journal Article

Resource thumbnail

Journal Article

After quantification: Insights from India’s Soil Health Card scheme

2026Ghosh, Ritwick; Nehring, Ryan; Zhang, Wei
Details

After quantification: Insights from India’s Soil Health Card scheme

As the concept of soil health gains prominence, it becomes increasingly important to examine how states design and implement soil health policies. Does soil health offer a novel pathway to enact and legitimize institutional changes toward more sustainable farming systems, or does it risk becoming another neologism that preserves status quo, productivist agriculture? We explore these questions through an analysis of one of the most ambitious state-led initiatives organized around soil health: India’s Soil Health Card (SHC) scheme. The SHC scheme seeks to provide every farmer in the country with bi-annual soil test reports, based on the assumption that improved information will encourage more judicious use of fertilizers and pesticides. The assumption reflects a broader emphasis within the agricultural sciences on the importance of quantifying soil health. Drawing on government documents and farmer perception studies (n = 38), we find that although farmers view the cards positively, they make few substantive changes to their farming practices. As an illustrative case, India’s grand SHC scheme shows that quantification alone is insufficient and could even dampen momentum for transformative policy reforms. Effective and durable change lies in pairing efforts to quantify soil health with (a) plural epistemic approaches to knowledge production, (b) participatory models for knowledge dissemination, and (c) structural reforms in the agri-food system that address issues around land tenure and subsidies.

Year published

2026

Authors

Ghosh, Ritwick; Nehring, Ryan; Zhang, Wei

Citation

Ghosh, Ritwick; Nehring, Ryan; and Zhang, Wei. 2026. After quantification: Insights from India’s Soil Health Card scheme. Land Use Policy 169(October 2026): 108147. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landusepol.2026.108147

Country/Region

India

Keywords

Asia; Southern Asia; Project Evaluation; Soil Health; Agricultural Policies; Environmental Policies; Sustainable Agriculture; Governance

Language

English

Access/Licence

Open AccessCC-BY-NC-ND-4.0

Links

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landusepol.2026.108147 Source record

Record type

Journal Article

Datasets

Dataset

Nature+ Quantitative Baseline Survey, India

2025International Food Policy Research Institute; Bioversity International and International Center for Tropical Agriculture
Details

Nature+ Quantitative Baseline Survey, India

In 2023, the Nature Positive Solutions (Nature+) Baseline survey was conducted in India, specifically focusing on the districts of Ahmednagar, Nashik, and Nandurbar in Maharashtra. The primary objective of the study was to assess the socio-economic conditions and agricultural systems in these regions, establishing a baseline to guide ongoing Nature+ interventions. The survey encompassed 1,228 smallholder farmer households, comprising 610 treated and 618 control households. Data collection utilized a two-stage sampling method and evaluated a range of variables, including socio-economic characteristics, agricultural practices, land use, nutrition, and the adoption of Nature+ practices. This comprehensive data will facilitate the assessment of Nature+ impacts on inclusion, poverty alleviation, food security, livelihoods, and environmental sustainability. In addition, the survey included interviews with 27 communities, gathering information on socio-demographic characteristics, access to essential services, land ownership patterns, agricultural practices, extension services, and community-wide shocks. All monetary values are reported in Indian Rupees (INR).

Year published

2025

Authors

International Food Policy Research Institute; Bioversity International and International Center for Tropical Agriculture

Citation

International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI); Alliance of Bioversity International and the International Center for Tropical Agriculture. 2025. Nature+ Quantitative Baseline Survey, India. Washington, DC: IFPRI [dataset]. https://doi.org/10.7910/DVN/QTGQKG. Harvard Dataverse. Version 1.

Country/Region

India

Keywords

Southern Asia; Asia; Agrifood Systems; Baseline Studies; Sustainable Agriculture; Natural Resources Management; Land Degradation; Food Security; Climate Change; Intensive Farming

Language

English

Access/Licence

Open AccessCC-BY-4.0

Links

https://doi.org/10.7910/dvn/qtgqkg Source record

Project

Nature-Positive Solutions

Record type

Dataset

Dataset

A&T Gujarat Implementation Research Baseline Survey 2022: Pregnant Women

2025International Food Policy Research Institute
Details

A&T Gujarat Implementation Research Baseline Survey 2022: Pregnant Women

This dataset comes from the Pregnant Women Survey, conducted as part of the baseline for the Alive & Thrive (A&T) impact evaluation in Gujarat, India. The study assessed how systems-strengthening interventions and local governance efforts improved the quality and coverage of nutrition and health services during pregnancy. The survey, carried out in three districts (Bharuch, Surat, Mahesana) between March–May 2022, collected data from women in both intervention and control blocks. It was implemented by IFPRI in partnership with Network for Engineering and Economics Research and Management (NEERMAN). The questionnaire consisted of multiple modules designed to gather comprehensive information on pregnant women’s experiences, knowledge, and service exposure. These data offer valuable insights into the reach and quality of nutrition and health services, particularly the delivery of Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) by frontline workers such as Anganwadi Workers (AWWs) and Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs), as well as the effectiveness of supervisory systems and local governance in addressing service gaps.

Year published

2025

Authors

International Food Policy Research Institute

Citation

International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI). 2025. A&T Gujarat Implementation Research Baseline Survey 2022: Pregnant Women. Washington, DC: IFPRI [dataset]. https://doi.org/10.7910/DVN/MCH4TJ. Harvard Dataverse. Version 1.

Country/Region

India

Keywords

Southern Asia; Asia; Baseline Studies; Decision Making; Health; Health Communication; Nutrition; Nutrition Education; Maternal Nutrition; Infant Feeding; Breast Feeding

Language

English

Access/Licence

Open AccessCC-BY-4.0

Links

https://doi.org/10.7910/dvn/mch4tj Source record

Record type

Dataset

Dataset

A&T Gujarat Implementation Research Baseline Survey 2022: Supervisory Cadre

2025International Food Policy Research Institute
Details

A&T Gujarat Implementation Research Baseline Survey 2022: Supervisory Cadre

This dataset originates from the Supervisory Cadre Survey, conducted as part of the baseline for the Alive & Thrive (A&T) impact evaluation study in Gujarat, India. The survey collected data from various supervisory roles, including Mukhya Sevika (MS), ASHA Facilitators (ASHA-F), Auxiliary Nurse Midwives (ANMs), Female Health Supervisors (FHS), Taluka Health Visitors (THVs), Child Development Project Officers (CDPOs), District Program Officers (DPOs), Taluka Health Officers (THOs), and Chief District Health Officers (CDHOs). The baseline survey was conducted from March to May 2022 in 26 blocks across three districts namely Bharuch, Surat, and Mahesana. Thirteen blocks were randomly assigned to intervention and control groups, with an additional urban block in Surat. The survey was carried out by the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) in collaboration with Network for Engineering and Economics Research and Management (NEERMAN). The Supervisory Cadre Survey included the following modules: Identification; Demographic Information; Training Experience; Supervision Practices; Use of Technology; Motivation and Self-Confidence; Knowledge of Maternal Nutrition and Infant and Young Child Feeding (IYCF) Practices. This dataset provides key insights into supervisory systems, their role in supporting frontline workers, and how well-equipped they are to facilitate improvements in nutrition and health service delivery during the first 1,000 days of life.

Year published

2025

Authors

International Food Policy Research Institute

Citation

International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI). 2025. A&T Gujarat Implementation Research Baseline Survey 2022: Supervisory Cadre. Washington, DC: IFPRI [dataset]. https://doi.org/10.7910/DVN/Q7OEKU. Harvard Dataverse. Version 1.

Country/Region

India

Keywords

Southern Asia; Asia; Baseline Studies; Decision Making; Health; Health Communication; Nutrition; Nutrition Education; Maternal Nutrition; Infant Feeding; Breast Feeding; Child Nutrition

Language

English

Access/Licence

Open AccessCC-BY-4.0

Links

https://doi.org/10.7910/dvn/q7oeku Source record

Record type

Dataset

Blogs

From satellite images to real-world impact: How IFPRI's collaboration with Dvara opened new doors for Odisha's marginalized farmers
Research Post
 | 
August 25, 2026

From satellite images to real-world impact: How IFPRI’s collaboration with Dvara opened new doors for Odisha’s marginalized farmers

By Berber Kramer, Senthil Kumar Sankararaju, and Tarun Katoch

Research helps expand access to credit.

Collaborative leadership strengthens research capacity and climate action: Lessons from Tamil Nadu, India
Research Post
 | 
August 21, 2026

Collaborative leadership strengthens research capacity and climate action: Lessons from Tamil Nadu, India

By Suresh Babu, D. Suresh Kumar, and Sudha Narayanan

Building more robust local institutions.

Understanding soil health in practice: Insights from India’s Soil Health Card scheme
Research Post
 | 
August 10, 2026

Understanding soil health in practice: Insights from India’s Soil Health Card scheme

By Ritwick Ghosh, Wei Zhang, Upeksha Hettiarachchi, Francis Phillip, and Ryan Nehring

Effects of a top-down approach.

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Events

IFPRI @ Global Conference on Women in Agri-Food Systems (GCWAS-2026)
IFPRI at External Event

 | 

March 12 to 14, 2026

IFPRI @ Global Conference on Women in Agri-Food Systems (GCWAS-2026)

IFPRI is pleased to be a co-organizer of the Global Conference on Women in Agrifood Systems (GCWAS 2026) that will be held in New Delhi, India from March 12-14, 2026. The Global Conference on Women in Agrifood Systems (GCWAS 2026) will bring together diverse stakeholders, including women leaders, scientists, entrepreneurs, farmers, and students, to share […]

AI4Agri Global Conference and Investor Summit 2026
IFPRI at External Event

 | 

February 22 to 23, 2026

AI4Agri Global Conference and Investor Summit 2026

AI4Agri 2026 – Global Conference & Investor Summit is a flagship event hosted by the Government of Maharashtra under its AI4Agri platform, a multi-year global initiative to drive agricultural transformation through responsible AI, frontier digital and emerging technologies, international collaboration, and large-scale investment in AgriTech solutions. Taking place on February 22–23, 2026 at the Jio […]

IFPRI @ India-AI Impact Summit 2026 & PAIRS 2026
IFPRI at External Event

 | 

February 16 to 20, 2026

IFPRI @ India-AI Impact Summit 2026 & PAIRS 2026

IFPRI is pleased to participate in the India‑AI Impact Summit 2026, held from February 16–20, 2026, in New Delhi, India, as well as in the PAIRS 2026 Participatory AI Research & Practice Symposium, a satellite event on February 18 focused on participatory approaches to AI research and practice. The PAIRS symposium brings together researchers and […]

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News

August 21, 2026 | News release

The fight over eggs in school meals (The Star)

The article cites a 2021 IFPRI study that found India’s Mid-Day Meal Scheme has played an important role in reducing child stunting.

August 19, 2026 | In the News

Widening waistline: India’s big, fat obesity hotspots may not be just the biggest cities anymore (The Economic Times)

The article cites IFPRI experts in a feature examining India’s rising obesity rates, particularly in rural areas.

July 01, 2026 | In the News

India’s growth story has a child nutrition problem (The Wire/IndiaSpend)

The article quotes IFPRI’s Purnima Menon who stresses the importance of maternal health, healthcare access and child feeding practices.

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Projects

Soil Health and Gender

Soil Health and Gender

IFPRI’s Research Initiative on Closing the Gender and Youth Gap for Healthier Soils develops evidence on how empowering women and youth can improve soil health……

Strengthening Women’s Advancement and Resilience in Agriculture (SWARNA)

Strengthening Women’s Advancement and Resilience in Agriculture (SWARNA)

The Gender Responsive Cell (GRC), supported by the SWARNA project, aims to institutionalize gender-responsive governance within the Department of Agriculture and Farmers’ Empowerment (DA&FE), Government……

Irrigation as a Service for Small-Scale Producers: Advancing Equity and Women’s Empowerment

Irrigation as a Service for Small-Scale Producers: Advancing Equity and Women’s Empowerment

Small-scale irrigation provides benefits for productivity, income, food security, nutrition, and resilience to climate shocks. However, women often face greater constraints than men to accessing……

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