BORROWER VIABILITY : A TEST OF SUCCESS OF THE GRAMEEN BANK IN BANGLADESH

The Grameen Bank has earned world-wide reputation. Its performance has been evaluated primarily from the institutional perspective by analysing recovery performance, contribution to rural poverty alleviation etc. This paper examines the performance of the Grameen Bank from the borrower perspective by analysing their viability. Borrower viability is evaluated in this paper in terms of changes in economic welfare. The study shows that the GB has infact enhanced economic welfare of its members. However, the paper observed that the approaches and activities of the GB should be recast in the light of the general strategy of current FFYP to be more successful

RESOURCE USE EFFICIENCY IN HYV BORO PADDY PRODUCTION IN SOME SELECTED AREAS OF BRAHMAN BARIA DISTRICT

Input use efficiency and productivity of different sizes of farms producing FIYV Boro in some selected areas of Brahman Baria district were investigated by employing primarily a Cobb-Douglas production function. Returns to scale and farmer's capability of producing at the least cost level were statistically tested. Farm size and productivity relationships were found to be positive. Boro production was characterized by increasing return to scale for only the medium farms. Few inputs were used in Boro production at the least cost combination level. Adequate extension services including application of right quantity of inputs at right times may help achieve efficiency in input use and improve profitability

IMPACT OF FARM-SPECIFIC FACTORS ON THE TECHNICAL INEFFICIENCY OF PRODUCING RICE IN BANGALDESH

The rice production of Bangladesh has been investigated using a Cobb-Douglas stochastic production function which incorporates a model for the technical inefficiency effects. Farm level primary data collected by stratified random sampling technique are used for this study. The factors identified in the stochastic production frontiers which are responsible for the increase of production are extension service, farm size, bullock power, age and experience. Seed, fertilizer, human labour and irrigation cost were identified as important factors for the increase of production for only Boro rice and were not important factors for Aus and Aman rice crops. The models for the technical inefficiency effects in the Cobb-Douglas stochastic production frontiers include the farm-specific factors age, education, experience, extension contact and farm size. The factors which influence the technical inefficiency effects are identified by simultaneous estimations of stochastic production frontiers and technical inefficiency effect models for different rice crops. The study reveals that the impacts of age,, experience, extension contact and farm size on the technical inefficiency effects are significantly negative which means that technical inefficiency effects decrease significantly with the increase in the magnitudes of these factors. The study also indicates that there are significant technical inefficiency effects in the production of all rice crops and the random component of the inefficiency effects explains that a significant portion of the difference between the observed output and the maximum production frontier output is caused by differences in farmers' levels of technical efficiency