i. To know the adoption of improved wheat varieties and their management technologies at farm level.
ii. To measure the relative profitability of wheat with other competing crops.
iii. To determine the input-output relationship of improved wheat cultivation.
iv. To identify the constraints of wheat cultivation at farm level.
2.1 Sample Size and Sampling Technique
A multi-stage sampling technique was followed in this study to select study areas and sample farmers. In the first stage of sampling, three wheat growing districts namely Thakurgaon, Kushtia and Tangail were selected based on high, medium and low intensity area. In the second stage, one upazila was selected from each district for sample survey. The names of the upazila were Thakurgaon sadar upazila from Thakurgaon district, Bheramara upazila from Kushtia district and Bhuapur upazila from Tangail district. In the third stage, a total of 300 wheat farmers taking 100 farmers from each upazila were selected by random sampling technique.
2.2 Method of data collection
Data for the present study were collected from sample wheat farmers through face to face interview method using a pre-tested interview schedule. Field level data were colleted by the researcher with the help of trained enumerators for the period of January to April, 2013.
2.3 Analytical Techniques
Both fixed cost and variable cost were taken into account in calculating cost of wheat cultivation. Land use cost was calculated on the basis of per year existing lease value of land. The profitability of wheat cultivation was examined on the basis of gross margin, net return and benefit cost analysis.Adoption level was categorized into three: (70-100%) as high, (50-69%) as medium and <50% as low level adoption. The collected data were edited, summarized, tabulated and analyzed to fulfill the objectives of the study. Tabular method using descriptive statistics was mostly used in the study. Cobb-Douglas production function model was used to estimate the contribution of factors to wheat cultivation.
The finding of the study revealed that the farmers in the study areas adopted wheat varieties such as Sonalika, BAW-28(Kanchon), BAW-43(Akbar), BARI wheat-18(Protiva), BARI wheat-19(Sourav), BARI wheat-21(Shatabdi), BARI wheat-23(Bijoy), BARI wheat-24(Prodip) and BARI wheat-26. Shatabdi was highly adopted variety (46%) followed by Prodip (19%), Bijoy (17%), Kanchon (7%) and Sonalika (5%) respectively.The cost of producing Shatabdi was highest (Tk 66565 /ha) followed by Prodip (Tk 63244/ha), Bijoy (Tk 62873/ha), Sonalika (Tk 61701/ha) and Kanchon (Tk 55322/ha), respectively due to the higher cost of human labour, land preparation, seed, and irrigation.The yield of Shatabdi was highest (4.27 t/ha) followed by Prodip (4.10t/ha), Bijoy (3.98 t/ha), Sonalika (3.62t/ha) and Kanchon (3.42t/ha). The difference between potential yield and farmers’ yield of Sonalika, Kanchon, Shatabdi, Bijoy and Prodip varieties of wheat were 0.9 ton, 1.2 ton, 0.8 ton, 1.1 ton and 1.0 ton per hectare. The net return of Shatabdi was highest (Tk 34987/ha) followed by Prodip(Tk 34467/ha), Bijoy (Tk 31917/ha), Sonalika (21321/ha) and Kanchon Tk19895/ha). The benefit cost ratios of Prodip was highest (1.54) followed by Shatabdi (1.53), Bijoy (1.51), Kanchan (1.36) and Sonalika (1.35) on full cost basis.In all areas 51% of the respondent farmers reported non- availability of new variety seed at proper time is a major constraint.Others major constraint for wheat cultivation were lack of technical knowledge about improved cultivation practices of wheat (45%), high price of fertilizers (22%) and low price of wheat (12%).