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Farmers' Perceptions on Yield Gaps, Production Losses and Priority Research Problem Areas in Bangladesh

M. Shahe Alam
Senior Scientific Officer
Senior Scientific Officer, Agricultural Economics Division, Bangladesh Rice Research Institute, Gazipur, Bangladesh.

Mahabub Hossain
Head
Head, Social Sciences Division, International Rice Research Institute, Manila, Philippines.

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

Perceptions of knowledgeable Bangladeshi farmers regarding rice yield losses due to various technical constraints were studied to quantify the magnitude of yield losses and yield gaps. Two model farmers were chosen from each of the selected 120 thanas of the country. These 240 sample farmers were interviewed to solicit their perceptions on probability of occurrence of different biotic and abiotic constraints, the proportion of area affected by these constraints and the corresponding yield losses. The result on normalized yield loss estimation shows that abiotic factors are much more severe than the biotic ones in constraining rice yields irrespective of production ecosystems. Yield loss from all biotic and abiotic constraints is estimated at 0.8 tons ha-1 which is about 28% of the current farm level yields. The volume of rice production lost from these constraints is estimated at 7.8 million tons of paddy valued at US $ 1558 million at the existing international prices. Ex-ante analysis shows that the research investment on the priority problem areas would pay fairly lucrative returns to the government.

Keywords: Farmers perceptions, Yield gap,Production losses,

Location: Bangladesh

Start Date: 00-00-1995

End Date: 00-00-1996

Program Area: Socio-economic and Policy

Commodity: Rice

Objectives:

a) To identify the existing rice yield gaps across the production environments and associated production constraints,

b) To estimate the contribution of various biotic and abiotic constraints to the yield gap in different rice ecosystem

c) To generate a list of priority problem areas for rice research based on their corresponding yield loss estimates and potential research pay-offs

Methodology:

Sampling and Data: For this study a nationwide field level survey on the estimation of rice yield gaps and yield losses was undertaken during 1995-96. A sample survey was carried out to study extension workers' and farmers' perceptions of yield gaps and yield losses. Thana level Agricultural Extension Officers and model farmers were the sampling units.To draw the sample for the survey, a two stage sampling procedure was adopted. The country was classified into 10 major agro ecological zones according to the FAO study. Each agro ecological zone was further subdivided into four land types according to flooding depth (MPO, 1992). All thanas in Bangladesh were grouped into these (10 x 4) 40 sub-ecosystems. A sample of 120 thanas (25% from each group) were then drawn randomly to proportionately represent the sub ecosystems. Two model farmers knowledgeable about rice production practices were purposively selected from each Thana with the advice of extension staff. A structured questionnaire was used for the survey. The research team consisting of agronomists, economists and extension specialists visited each region and held a workshop with extension officials to discuss the objective of the study and to solicit information on major insects and diseases in the region, the coverage of area under different rice ecosystems and soil related stresses. Assistance was solicited to identify model farmers in the selected thana and to conduct the survey. Farmers were interviewed by crop production specialists in presence of the local extension officer. Information were generated on crop varieties, input use, major yield reducing stresses, frequency of their occurrence over the last 10 years, area affected and corresponding yield losses in the affected area. Extension personnel helped farmers to identify the constraint/symptoms but corresponding estimate of losses were obtained from the farmers themselves. A final workshop was held at BRRI to review the findings by the rice researchers and the extension specialists. Yield loss estimation The estimates of yield loss were made based on three variables: Frequency of occurrence of the problem in the last ten years Percent of area affected by the constraint when it occurs The amount of yield loss in the affected area The area affected by each constraint in a normal year was estimated by multiplying the first two variables. The normalized yield losses were estimated by multiplying the yield losses in affected area with the percent of area affected by the constraint. The normalized yield losses per unit area were then multiplied by the total rice area to estimate the production losses from these constraints at the national level.

Source of Information: Bangladesh. J. Agric. Econs.;. XXI, 1& 2 (1998): 21-38

Article Link (Online Journal):

Funding Source:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

The result on normalized yield loss estimation shows that abiotic factors are much more severe than the biotic ones in constraining rice yields irrespective of production ecosystems. Yield loss from all biotic and abiotic constraints is estimated at 0.8 tons ha-1 which is about 28% of the current farm level yields. The volume of rice production lost from these constraints is estimated at 7.8 million tons of paddy valued at US $ 1558 million at the existing international prices. Ex-ante analysis shows that the research investment on the priority problem areas would pay fairly lucrative returns to the government.

Knowledge Management: Journal