Farmers' Access to Farm Programs of Bangladesh Betar: An Evaluation of Effectiveness

Abstract

Different forms of farm programs (FP) have been being developed and aired by Bangladesh Betar (BB) for decades to
hasten the development of agriculture and the farming communities of Bangladesh. These programs are in dire need of
academic study for in-depth evaluation to discern their effectiveness. This study was supposed to reveal the effectiveness
of the FP of BB in respect of the extent to which it reaches the farmers of Bangladesh. Data and necessary information
were collected by means of document analysis and survey methods. A sample of 465 respondents was selected for
questionnaire survey. Frequency distribution and z-test for significance test of proportions were done for data analysis. It
was divulged that the FPs of BB were ineffectual because they failed to reach 93.33 per cent of the farmers. Radio set, a
culturally unfit device was possessed by only 4.30 per cent of the farmers. Most of the farmers were accustomed to
unauthorized sources (salesman and fellow farmers) of farm information. Avast majority of the respondents were insolent
towards the authorized extension agents and departments. The unconsciousness regarding the importance of farm
knowledge and their mindset were the most influencing factors for listening to the FPs. Initiatives were must to change the
long cherished mindset of the farmers and culturally fit devices were to be patronized in receiving the radio FPs.