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Farmer Education and Agricultural Efficiency: Evidence from Lao PDR

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  • Phanhpakit ONPHANHDALA

Abstract

We focus our study on the agrarian transition in Lao People's Democratic Republic (Lao PDR), a country overwhelmingly dependent on agriculture. Close to 80% of a population lives in rural areas and most are near-subsistence farmers engaged in rice-based agriculture. The large role agriculture plays can hardly be overlooked. Given the paucity of evidence, this paper provides a research on the determinants of agricultural efficiency and rural development by analyzing the marked differences between the upland and the lowland farming of the country. Our original contribution is to explore the association between farmer education and the adoption of modern agricultural practices in Lao PDR. We find that the returns to farmer education are strongly positive, particular for a completion of primary cycle. Moreover, a better educated farmer is more likely to use new technology, and to have market access and off-farm activities. Despite the large public investment in irrigation, its role is very limited. The research suggests that the support policy on farmer education will be decisive not only for the success of the agrarian transition process but also the long term development of the country.

Suggested Citation

  • Phanhpakit ONPHANHDALA, 2009. "Farmer Education and Agricultural Efficiency: Evidence from Lao PDR," GSICS Working Paper Series 20, Graduate School of International Cooperation Studies, Kobe University.
    • Handle: RePEc:kcs:wpaper:20
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    File URL: http://www.research.kobe-u.ac.jp/gsics-publication/gwps/2009-20.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    2. Selebogo LESHORO & Temitope L.A. LESHORO, 2013. "Impacts of literacy rate and human development indices on agricultural production in South Africa," Agricultural Economics, Czech Academy of Agricultural Sciences, vol. 59(11), pages 531-536.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Returns to Education; Farm Efficiency; Agrarian Transition; Lao PDR;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • O13 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Agriculture; Natural Resources; Environment; Other Primary Products
    • O15 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Economic Development: Human Resources; Human Development; Income Distribution; Migration
    • Q12 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Agriculture - - - Micro Analysis of Farm Firms, Farm Households, and Farm Input Markets

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