Farmer’s Literacy Rate as Key Driver in Food Production and Food Security: An Empirical Appraisal from Punjab, Pakistan

Abstract

Farmer’s education in rural areas is an essential element to get better agricultural productivity (Mellor, 1976). The main purpose of the study is to examine that the literacy rate is key determinant in every aspect of agricultural production (food production). Either it is land, irrigation, livestock, agricultural credit or agricultural labor; literacy rate is serving as key driver in agricultural production as well as in food security. For this purpose cross-sectional data of Punjab province of Pakistan is used. Desired data were collected from Food Insecurity Report 2009 (SDPI, SDC and World Food Program 2009), Punjab Development Statistics (Government of Punjab 2009) and Punjab Agricultural Census Report 2010 (Government of Pakistan, 2012). OLS model was used to find out the results and the results show that the farmer’s literacy rate has positive and significance relationship with food security in both separate cases and overall contribution of all possible variables. Government should intervene in enhancing the educational programs for Farmers and play vital role in enhancing the farmer’s literacy rate.