Contribution of Farmer-to-Farmer Video to Capital Assets Building: Evidence from Bangladesh

http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/10440046.2011.562059
Topic(s): 
Countries: 
DOI: 
10.1080/10440046.2011.562059
ISSN: 
10.1080/10440046.2011.562059
Type: 
journal article
Journal: 
Journal of Sustainable Agriculture
Number: 
4
Pages: 
408-435
Volume: 
35
Year: 
2011
Authors: 
Chowdhury Ataharul Huq
Van Mele Paul
Hauser Michael
Description: 

This study reports on the contribution of farmer– to-farmer video-mediated group learning to capital assets building of women in resource-poor households. Data were collected using structured interviews with 140 randomly selected women in 28 video villages and 40 women in four control villages in north-west Bangladesh. Video-mediated group learning enhanced women’s ability to apply and experiment with seed technologies. It also stimulated reciprocal sharing of new knowledge and skills between them, other farmers and service providers. Rice yields increased by 15%, which improved the women’s social and economic status and intra-household decision-making. Over 20% of the households attained rice self-sufficiency, with no changes observed in control villages. This study has provided insights into the potential use of farmer-to-farmer video in sustainable agriculture to strengthen human, social and financial capital and to reduce poverty.

Publication year: 
2011