The Million Farmers School: evaluating its impact on farmers' agricultural knowledge in Uttar Pradesh, India
Journal of Agribusiness in Developing and Emerging Economies
ISSN: 2044-0839
Article publication date: 19 April 2022
Issue publication date: 21 November 2023
Abstract
Purpose
The Million Farmers School (MFS) program—also known as Kisan Pathshala was launched to impart training to the farmers by the government of the state of Uttar Pradesh (India) in December 2017. This study estimates the impact of training on agricultural knowledge of the farmers.
Design/methodology/approach
The study is based on household survey conducted in Uttar Pradesh (UP), India, during March–May 2019. The authors employed matching methods, the two-stage least square (2SLS)-residual and endogenous switching regression approaches to control for selection bias and endogeneity.
Findings
The results suggest that knowledge outcomes are significantly better among participants vis-à-vis non-participants. The results are robust to different model specifications. Further, the benefits are observed across different regions and social groups.
Research limitations/implications
The MFS program can go a long way in enhancing agricultural know-how and the farmers' economic well-being, bringing a transformative change in the agricultural landscape of UP.
Originality/value
This study is based on a field survey data and analyzes various aspects of the program's impact, design and implementation, and offers implementation advice for greater efficacy in future.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The authors express sincere gratitude to the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and to the CGIAR research program on Policies, Institutions and Markets (PIM), led by IFPRI. The authors benefitted from the interactions with officials at various levels of the Department of Agriculture, Government of Uttar Pradesh, in the course of the study. The support and cooperation extended by these officials is greatly appreciated. The authors are thankful to the enumerators who implemented the survey and the farmers who spared time to participate in the interviews. The authors sincerely thank Dr. P.K. Joshi and Dr. Shahidur Rashid, former and present Director, South Asia Region, IFPRI, respectively, for their constant support in carrying out this study. The opinions expressed here belong to the authors, and do not necessarily reflect those of IFPRI, CGIAR, ICAR or the Government of Uttar Pradesh.
Citation
Kumar, A., Verma, S., Saroj, S., Prasad, A.M. and Kishore, A. (2023), "The Million Farmers School: evaluating its impact on farmers' agricultural knowledge in Uttar Pradesh, India", Journal of Agribusiness in Developing and Emerging Economies, Vol. 13 No. 5, pp. 706-730. https://doi.org/10.1108/JADEE-12-2021-0334
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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