This cross-sectional study uses production function analysis to examine the relationship between the education of rice farm "managers" and farm productivity in northeast Bangladesh. The study also attempts to determine in what ways education influences farm output, if it does, and to what extent the effect of education on output, if any, is mediated by the social organization of production in rural Bangladesh. The farm level data, based upon one agricultural season, was collected by the author during a seven month period in the Sylhet district of Bangladesh, 1981. / The findings of the study support a large body of literature which suggests that formal schooling has a positive effect on agricultural productivity. Of the nonformal educational activities examined, exposure to agricultural radio broadcasts and participation in out-of-school literacy classes are found to be positively associated with farm productivity. In addition, evidence is presented which suggests that, in the study area, agricultural extension contact has a positive influence on rice paddy production per acre. / The study's results indicate that one reason both formal schooling and nonformal literacy training seem to enhance productivity is because both types of education provide farmers with literacy-related capabilities which are positively associated with farm productivity. However, formal and nonformal education are found to influence farm production independently, rather than as substitutes or complements. / Although the findings indicate that formal schooling has a positive effect on rice farm production per acre, the production model, as specified, indicates that the extent of that educational effect depends upon a farmer's class position within the social organization of production. Based upon these findings, the tentative conclusion is that, while the expansion of schooling may tend to increase overall productivity in the agricultural sector, the unintended consequence of such a policy may be the exacerbation of existing class-based income inequalities in Bangladesh. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 44-02, Section: A, page: 0327. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--The Florida State University, 1983.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:fsu.edu/oai:fsu.digital.flvc.org:fsu_75030 |
| Contributors | FULLER, RICHARD HARLAN., Florida State University |
| Source Sets | Florida State University |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Text |
| Format | 323 p. |
| Rights | On campus use only. |
| Relation | Dissertation Abstracts International |
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