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Demographic pressure, technological innovation and welfare: The case of the agriculture of Bangladesh

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  • T. Islam
  • M.A. Taslim

Abstract

In the early years of its introduction, the HYV technology was widely regarded as a technical breakthrough that would bring about rapid agrarian progress and a revolutionary improvement in the standard of living of the farm population. Three decades later the promise of the new technology remains unfulfilled. This article argues that the adoption of the HYV technology in the agriculture of Bangladesh was determined mainly by an acute demographic pressure. Since the non‐agricultural sectors did not expand sufficiently rapidly, there was a tremendous pressure on agriculture to accommodate the additional workforce. The imperative to employ a larger workforce and feed a rising population forced the farmers to adopt the labour‐intensive, land‐augmenting HYV technology. The welfare of the farmers did not show any secular increase with the switch to the new technology.

Suggested Citation

  • T. Islam & M.A. Taslim, 1996. "Demographic pressure, technological innovation and welfare: The case of the agriculture of Bangladesh," Journal of Development Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 32(5), pages 734-770.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:jdevst:v:32:y:1996:i:5:p:734-770
    DOI: 10.1080/00220389608422438
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    1. Hossain, Mahabub, 1988. "Nature and impact of the Green Revolution in Bangladesh:," Research reports 67, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI).
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    Cited by:

    1. Witcover, Julie & Vosti, Stephen A. & Lipton, Michael, 2006. "Agricultural Change and Population Growth: District-Level Evidence From India," 2006 Annual Meeting, August 12-18, 2006, Queensland, Australia 25443, International Association of Agricultural Economists.
    2. Wheatley, W. Parker & Liu, Donald J. & del Ninno, Carlo, 2001. "Empirical Analysis Of Hysteresis In Rural Labor Markets In A Developing Country: The Case Of Bangladesh," 2001 Annual meeting, August 5-8, Chicago, IL 20594, American Agricultural Economics Association (New Name 2008: Agricultural and Applied Economics Association).
    3. Hafiz Syed Mohsin Abbas & Samreen Gillani & Saif Ullah & Muhammad Ahsan Ali Raza & Atta Ullah, 2020. "Nexus Between Governance and Socioeconomic Factors on Public Service Fragility in Asian Economies," Social Science Quarterly, Southwestern Social Science Association, vol. 101(5), pages 1850-1868, September.
    4. Taslim, M.A. & Taslim, Q.N., 2018. "Productivity and Agricultural Real Wage in Bangladesh: 1959-60 to 2012-13," Bangladesh Development Studies, Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies (BIDS), vol. 41(01), pages 1-30, March.

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