Impact of agriculture extension services on technical efficiency of rural paddy farmers in southwest Bangladesh

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

  • Bangkim Biswas - , Coastal Research Foundation (CRF) (Author)
  • Bishawjit Mallick - , Chair of Environmental Development and Risk Management, University of Colorado Boulder (Author)
  • Apurba Roy - , University of Barishal, Victoria University of Wellington (Author)
  • Zakia Sultana - , Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Science and Technology University (Author)

Abstract

Agricultural Extension Services (AES) aim to improve farming knowledge that helps in increasing crop production and the technical efficiency of paddy farmers in Bangladesh. The purposes of this study are to measure the impact of an AES, namely, the Blue Gold programme, on the technical efficiency and production level of the Boro paddy farmers in southwest rural Bangladesh. A total of 122 paddy farmers were interviewed, employing a random sampling method. To analyse the technical efficiency of the farmers, the Cobb-Douglas stochastic frontier model was employed. The findings show that the mean technical efficiency levels of the participants and non-participants are 95% and 82%, producing 162.74 and 136.48 maunds per hectare, respectively. The findings are indispensable for devising strategies for environment-friendly agricultural activities and rural economic development in Bangladesh.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Article number100261
JournalEnvironmental Challenges
Volume5
Publication statusPublished - Dec 2021
Peer-reviewedYes

Keywords

Sustainable Development Goals

Keywords

  • Agricultural extension services, Bangladesh, Blue gold programme, Extension contact, Participant and non-participant, Technical efficiency