The Role of Agricultural Credit in Rice Production and Food Security in Some Selected Areas of Gazipur District

Type Thesis or Dissertation - Master thesis
Title The Role of Agricultural Credit in Rice Production and Food Security in Some Selected Areas of Gazipur District
Author(s)
Publication (Day/Month/Year) 2013
Abstract
This study examines the role of agricultural credit on rice production and food security of the rural households at Gazipur Sadar Upazila of Gazipur district in Bangladesh. A sample size of 50 households was selected purposively from two villages who were getting agricultural credit from Bangladesh Krishi Bank. Data were collected through field survey by using pre-designed and pre-tested questionnaire. Multiple regression analyses were carried out to determine the impact of credit on rice production and also to determine impact of credit on calorie intake in household and individual levels. Cross-elasticity of demand technique was used to determine the impact of credit on inputs demand. Calorie intake levels were calculated and statistical comparisons were done. The major findings of the study were that credit has a positive impact on the rice production. Elasticity of rice production with respect to agricultural credit was 0.85 which indicates that if credit was increased by 10% the rice production increased by 8.5%. The elasticity of fertilizer and irrigation demand with respect to agricultural credit was 0.889 and 0.815 respectively. About 50% of the respondents belonged to ultra poor whose per day calorie intake was 1541.392 k.cal, 20% of the respondents had an average calorie intake 2021.08 k. calorie/day. The rest 12% of the respondents were consumed above 2122 k.calorie/day. The Bangladesh Krishi Bank has provided the loan only for rice production. But it was found that about 44.77% of the total amount of loan was used for rice production and 5.71% was used for food consumption. Credit was found to have positive impact on caloric intake. The elasticity of caloric intake with respect to agricultural credit was .088. Government, non-governmental organizations, donor agencies, specialized banks, private organizations should extend agricultural loans to increase rice production and food security of rural poor households in Bangladesh.

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