| Title: |
Assessing the Productivity Effects of Agricultural Extension in a Pluralistic System: An Analysis of Brazilian Family Farming in 2017 |
| Language: |
English |
| Authors: |
Adauto B. Rocha Junior; Joaquim Bento de Souza Ferreira Filho |
| Source: |
Journal of Agricultural Education and Extension. 2025 31(3):393-415. |
| Availability: |
Routledge. Available from: Taylor & Francis, Ltd. 530 Walnut Street Suite 850, Philadelphia, PA 19106. Tel: 800-354-1420; Tel: 215-625-8900; Fax: 215-207-0050; Web site: http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals |
| Peer Reviewed: |
Y |
| Page Count: |
23 |
| Publication Date: |
2025 |
| Document Type: |
Journal Articles; Reports - Research |
| Descriptors: |
Agricultural Education; Agricultural Occupations; Extension Education; Family (Sociological Unit); Distance Education; Municipalities; Rural Extension; Foreign Countries; Productivity; Census Figures; Efficiency; Cooperatives; Corporations; Public Agencies; Technology Integration; Technical Assistance; Consultants; Public Policy |
| Geographic Terms: |
Brazil |
| DOI: |
10.1080/1389224X.2024.2382732 |
| ISSN: |
1389-224X; 1750-8622 |
| Abstract: |
Purpose: This paper analyzes the impact of agricultural extension on the production of Brazilian family farmers, breaking down differences among extension providers. Design/Methodology/Approach: An Output Distance Function was estimated for Brazilian family farming using 5,463 municipality-level observations from the 2017 Brazilian Agricultural Census. The impact of extension on efficiency and technology was assessed. Findings: Rural extension services from public institutions, cooperatives, and private companies increased technical efficiency. Independent consultant services increased the adoption of more productive technologies and technical efficiency. However, public technical assistance increased productivity by 47.76%, technicians hired directly by farmers increased productivity by 31.25%, and technical assistance from cooperatives increased productivity by 31%. Practical implications: These findings could aid in the Brazilian Extension System's goal of promoting productivity gains. The National Policy of Rural Extension has the ability to decentralize the role of the government and structure incentives to increase access to other providers based on these findings. Theoretical implications: This article expands the econometric estimation of Output Distance Functions to break down the impacts of extension on both efficiency and technology adoption. Originality/Value: Using readily available municipality-level data, this paper contributes to the understanding of the effectiveness of the different providers of rural extension for Brazilian family farmers and provides data regarding the impact on yield. |
| Abstractor: |
As Provided |
| Entry Date: |
2025 |
| Accession Number: |
EJ1474416 |
| Database: |
ERIC |