摘要:The Farmer Field School (FFS) is an intensive training program providing farmers with science based knowledge and practices, including the integrated pesticide management (IPM). Recently there has been intensive debates as to whether or not this kind of training has any significant impact. Most case studies argue that the impact, in terms of a farmers ability to reduce the use or pesticides while increasing yields, is significant. However, studies conducted by Feder et al., using a household panel data set for Indonesia, could not confirm that this is the case. This paper utilises Feder et al.s data set and applies a spatial econometric technique to re-evaluate whether or not the FFS induces better performances among farmers enrolled in the program and also among their neighbours, who are expected to receive some spillover knowledge from the FFS alumna.
关键词:agricultural economics;spatial econometrics;economic development