Agricultural Research Management Information System

Home
Research Summary
Search
About Us
- ARMIS
- Brochure
Contact Us
Report
User Request
Data Input
Help
- Operation Manual
  - PDF
  - Video
- Program Area & Commodity
We have reached 37600 number of research entries at this moment.

- Logout

Research Detail

Home
Research
Detail

Farmers' Preferences for Different Varieties of Aman Paddy and the Uses of Production Inputs in an Area of Bangladesh

S. M. M. Murshed
Asociate Professor
Department of Agricultural Economics, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh.

M. S. Alam
Graduate student
Department of Agricultural Economics, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh.

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

This paper presents an investigation of the farmers' varietal preferences, the factors causing the adoption of high-yielding varieties of aman paddy ( HYVs ), the per acre uses of seeds and chemical fertilizers for producing different HYVs and traditional varieties of aman paddy (TVs) in an area of Bangladesh. Three selected indicators were used for measuring the degrees of farmers' varietal preferences. Degrees of adequacy In the use of production inputs were estimated by comparing the levels of application with recommended doses per acre. The result of the analysis suggests that the farmers had strong preferences for TVs over HYVs. The high yield per acre was the most important factor causing the adoption of HYVs while the absence of government assistance was one of the major factors responsible for retarding the adoption of HYVs. The levels of different input uses per acre were higher for HYVs than those for TVs, and they were economically justified. The results of the analysis further reveal that the farmers used high-yielding and traditional variety seeds adequately, while the degrees of adequacy in the use of chemical fertilizers ranged from about 4 percent to 17 percent for different varieties of aman paddy.

Keywords: Aman paddy, Different Varieties, Farmers

Location: Mymensingh District

Start Date: 00-09-1976

End Date: 00-01-1977

Program Area: Knowledge Management

Non-commodity: Adoption of technology

Objectives:

To study the farmers' varietal preferences and the factors causing the adoption of high-yielding varieties of aman paddy ( HYVs ).

Methodology:

Data used in this paper were obtained from a field survey conducted on a cross section sample of forty farmers over the period from September 1976 to January 1977. Farmers producing only TVs were eliminated from the sample and a simple random sampling technique was used. Data were collected through direct interviews with farmers. The area selected for investigation is located about 5 miles south of Mymensingh town and comprised of the village Beltali under Bhabakhali Union council in Kotwali thana of Mymensingh District. The study area belongs to the Brahmaputra alluvial soil tract of Mymensingh zone. The soil of the village is clay loam. The study area usually remains unaffected by flood, and produces different varieties of aman paddy under rainfed condition. It was assumed that tbe farmers were operating under similar agro- climatic conditions, and therefore, the same production alternatives were available to each of those farmers. An assumption was also made to prevent the inclusion of unattainable preferences so that the cultivation of a particular variety would reflect the farmers' preferences for the variety. Degrees of farmers' preferences for different varieties of aman paddy were estimated by applying three alternative criteria. First criterion was tbe proportion of total aman acreage devoted to the production of different varieties expressed in terms of percentages. Second criterion measured the percentages of growers of different varieties to total sample farmers. The first and second criteria will be termed as acreage and grower criteria respectively. The third criterion was used for HYV growers only. The criterion referred to the length of adoption period (excluding aman season in the year of investigation) expressed as the percentages of HYV growers to total sample farmers. Particular measure of adequacy levels in the use of seeds and chemical fertilizers was as follows: Degree of adequacy=(Input used per acre/Input recommended per acre) X 100, Data on recommended doses of seeds and chemical fertilizers per acre were obtained from a secondary source.

Source of Information: Bangladesh Journal of Agricultural Economics , Vol-1,1 (1978),114-122

Article Link (Online Journal):

Funding Source:

1.

Budget:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

The foregoing analysis seemed to suggest the following major conclusions. First, given the sampling of farmers exclusive of those producing only TVs, the foregoing assessment of the farmers' preferences for different HYVs is hardly one of moderate enthusiasm. This suggests that before a recommendation for large scale expansion of aman acreage under HYVs in Bangladesh is made, the practicality of the suggestion demands further investigations into the farmers' varietal preferences over a period of time with due considerations on "the first, second and third generations of problems". Second, the farmer's financial constraints and the country's institutional brrners on the adoption of HYVs raise important issues relative to the adequacy and timeliness of agricultural credit and other input supply programmers, especially for chemical fertilizers, improved seeds, pesticides and training of government personnel, which need a careful appraisal for policy guidelines. Third, the large number of production alternatives of am an paddy and the changing nature of farmers' preferences over time emphasize the need for continuing farm management research to provide information to policy makers on input uses and requirements, resource productivity aod production profitability, and to give them better understanding relative to the effects of alternative government programmers on production and resource adjustments.

Knowledge Management: Journal