Assessing the impact of the dairy lead farmer approach on technology dissemination and food security in Bangladesh

Dairy Lead farmers’ approach (LFA) has emerged as a promising strategy for disseminating dairy technologies and improving food security in developing countries like Bangladesh. This study examines the effectiveness of LFA in promoting livestock technologies to ensure food security under the Livestock and Dairy Development Project (LDDP) in promoting dairy technology and enhancing household food security. Data were collected from 280 dairy farming households using a convenience random sampling technique, supplemented by focus group discussions and key informant interviews. Descriptive statistics and the propensity score matching model were employed to analyze the data. The results indicate that the LFA significantly increased the adoption of improved dairy technology practices, including advanced breeding techniques, feed management, and disease control, which in turn enhanced milk and meat production. The PSM analysis revealed that the Average Treatment effect on the Treated (ATT) was 0.276, and the Average Treatment effect on the Untreated (ATU) was 0.198, indicating a substantial positive impact of LFA participation on technology adoption and household food security. The study underscores the critical role of trained Lead Farmers (LFs) as local extension agents who bridge the gap between formal research and smallholder farmers. Evidence from the LDDP suggests that integrating the LFA into national livestock extension systems while addressing its implementation challenges can serve as a scalable model for improving food and nutrition security among rural households. Policymakers and development practitioners are encouraged to invest in and expand the LFA as a strategic tool for sustainable agricultural development in Bangladesh and other developing countries.