African Security Studies (Political Science focus) | 15 April 2003
Off-grid Communities Yield Improvement through Quasi-experimental Design in Kenya: A Methodological Assessment
O, g, i, n, g, a, M, u, t, u, a, M, u, t, u, r, i, ,, M, u, g, o, G, i, c, h, e, h, a, W, e, r, e, k, w, a
Abstract
Off-grid communities in Kenya face challenges in accessing reliable energy sources, impacting agricultural productivity and overall development. A randomized controlled trial was conducted with matched control groups to assess yield improvements among participating communities. The analysis revealed an average increase in maize yields by 15% in treated communities compared to the baseline period, though there was considerable variability across different regions and seasons. Quasi-experimental design provided a robust method for measuring the effect of off-grid solar systems on yield improvements without controlled experiments. Future studies should consider long-term sustainability impacts and explore additional factors influencing yield outcomes. off-grid communities, solar energy, quasi-experimental design, agricultural productivity Model estimation used $\hat{\theta}=argmin<em>{\theta}\sum</em>i\ell(y<em>i,f</em>\theta(x<em>i))+\lambda\lVert\theta\rVert</em>2^2$, with performance evaluated using out-of-sample error.