Rice research, technological progress, and poverty: the Bangladesh case

Abstract

This case study assesses the impact on poverty of the technological changes in rice cultivation made by IRRI and its national partners in Bangladesh. Modern varieties (MVs) with higher yield potential were first introduced more than 20 years ago, and 47 varieties have since been released for different agroecological conditions. Because of the importance of rice and the increases in both yield and labour requirements of MVs, agricultural research has had both direct effects on adopting farmers and indirect effects on employment and prices. This case study analyses direct on-farm benefits, indirect effects through employment and rice prices, and positive and negative impacts of mediating institutions, such as the markets for land, labour, water and credit. Nationwide panel data existed for 1987, 1990 and 1995 that were supplemented in 2000 with a resurvey and qualitative data collection on institutional change.