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Farmers’ Perception of Risk in Cultivating Hybrid Rice in Bangladesh

Shah, M. M. I.
PhD Candidate
Australian National Centre for Public Awareness of Science, The Australian National University.

Grant, W. J.
Lecturer and Graduate Studies Convenor
Australian National Centre for the Public Awareness of Science, Australian National University

Stocklmayer, S.
Professor and Director
Australian National Centre for the Public Awareness of Science, The Australian National University

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

Although there is an enormous potential for improving the adoption of hybrid rice in Bangladesh, it is going through some difficulties in practice. Understanding farmers’ perception about difficulties is critical to successful promotion. The present study was conducted to analyze farmers’ perception of risk in cultivating hybrid rice and its relationship with the selected characteristics. The study was conducted in five regions of Bangladesh. A concurrent embedded design using a cross-sectional survey was employed. The population of this study consisted of rice growers of the boro season. A multistage stratified random sampling design was employed in selecting the sample of 425 farmers. Data were collected through face–to–face interviews using a pre-tested and back-translated questionnaire. Findings indicated that a vast majority of non-adopters (97.5%), de-adopters (94.2%) and continuing adopters (89.2%) perceived moderate to serious risks in cultivating hybrid rice. Data also confirmed a significant relationship between farm size, promotional efforts, farmers’ attitudes towards hybrid rice and their perception of risk in cultivating it. The results of this study raise important considerations for research leaders, policymakers and extension worker to refine the policy guidelines for the promotion of hybrid rice in Bangladesh.

Keywords: Risk, Perception, Survey, Hybrid rice, Farmer, Bangladesh

Location: In Bangladesh

Start Date:

End Date:

Program Area: Risk Management in Agriculture

Commodity: Rice

Objectives:

The following specific objectives were formulated: i) to assess farmers’ perception of risk in cultivating hybrid rice ii) to develop an item-wise analysis of risk as perceived by farmers; iii) to explore the relationships between selected farmers’ characteristics (age, educational qualification, family size, farm size, annual family income, training experience, organizational participation, communication exposure, promotional efforts, attitude towards hybrid rice and extent of adoption) and their attitude towards hybrid rice.

Methodology:

Research site: The land use pattern of Bangladesh is influenced by agroecology, soil physiographic and climatic factors (BBS 2011). Based on these factors, the land in the country has been classified into 9 regions of which at least five have been gazetted by the Government of Bangladesh for on-farm evaluation of each variety of hybrid rice to be registered (GoB 2003). Therefore five regions were taken into account for this study in order to select the sample. Sampling design: A concurrent embedded design using a cross-sectional survey was employed (Creswell, 2009). The population of this study consisted of rice growers in the boro season who were responsible for farming decisions. A multistage stratified random sampling design as proposed by Babbie (1990) was employed in selecting the sample. In order to maintain the level of precision (sampling error) at (±) 5%, the level of confidence at 95 % and the degree of variability at 50%, 425 farmers were selected following sample size recommendations as proposed by Israel (2009); Dillman (2007); and Corbetta (2003). Farmers in three categories were sampled: namely, non-adopters (79), de-adopters (those who discontinue after having previously adopted-122) and continuing adopters (224) of hybrid rice. Data were collected through face–to–face interviews with the sampled farmers using a pre-tested and back-translated questionnaire. The questionnaire was formatted with both open and closed item questions to obtain both quantitative and qualitative data. The first author spent 120 working days in the study area between March 2 and June 30, 2012 to collect data. Measurement of risk as perceived by growers: In order to quantity the perception of risk of the sampled farmers of hybrid rice cultivation, 16 risk items were identified from the areas of varietal selection, seed availability, susceptibility to drought and pest, physiological disorder like lodging, shattering and formation of empty grains, cost and care involvement, suitability of consumption, marketing status, yield stability, and proneness to damage of hybrid rice. The validity of the items was established using a panel of experts, which comprised the Graduate Committee Members, a hybrid rice scientist (working at Bangladesh Rice Research Institute) and an academician (Professor of Genetics and plant breeding at Banghbandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Agricultural University (BSMRAU) and an Extension specialist working at DAE. This variable was measured by asking respondents to indicate their level of agreement in Likert-type scale as followed by Lucas & Pabuayon, (2011) ranging from “none” to “a lot” weighted 0 to 3, where 0 indicated ‘no risk’ and 3 indicated ‘a lot’ against individual item statement. The average score for individual item statement with standard deviation was computed to find its relative position in the scale. To do so, the score for each point of the scale was calculated by multiplying its weight with the number of responses. All weighted scores were then summed and then divided by the total number of responses to calculate the mean. Internal reliability of the scale used for measuring perception of risk was calculated using Cronbach’s alpha, which was found to be 0.60. Henerson, Morris, & Fitz-Gibbon (1987) stated that in the case of attitude measurement, a reliability coefficient of above 0.70 is desirable, but lower coefficients are also tolerated. Statistical analysis: We reviewed each survey instrument for missing information (name of block, Upazila and district), ineligible writing, and incomplete sentences and responses. Based on the outputs of the questionnaire survey, various statistical data analyses including analyses of frequencies, percentage, range of scores, means, and standard deviations of the variables were performed. In order to compare the groups of non-adopters, de-adopters and continuing adopters, Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) was performed.

Source of Information: S. Afr. J. Agric. Ext., Vol. 43, No. 2, 2015: 17 – 29

Article Link (Online Journal): DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.17159/2413-3221/2015/v43n2a338

Funding Source:

Budget:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

A significant difference was found between de-adopters and continuing adopters in terms of risk as perceived by them. A vast majority of non-adopters (97.5%), de-adopters (94.2%) and continuing adopters (89.2%) perceived moderate to serious risk in cultivating hybrid rice. The findings indicated that non-adopters are more anxious about the risk than de-adopters and continuing adopters, which probably keeps them away from initiating the cultivation of hybrid rice. The major risk items were: selecting the right variety; susceptibility of the plants to drought, insect pest and disease, requiring intensive crop care and greater cost; lower consumer demand and market price; year-wise yield fluctuation; and a continuous obsession about impending disaster. The data also showed a significant positive relationship between farm size, promotional efforts and perception of risk in cultivating hybrid rice but a significant negative relationship between farmers’ attitudes towards hybrid rice and their perception of risk in cultivating it.

Knowledge Management: Journal