Shrestha, B. and H. S. Bhandari (2000). Adoption of Improved Rice: The Farmers’ Perspective in the Western Hills of Nepal. Technical Paper No. 2000/2. Kaski, Nepal: Agriculture Research Station, Lumle.
A study on identification of farmers' adoption criteria for the selection of improved varieties in normal, spring and upland rice production systems was carried out at 11 sites of different types viz. agro-ecological research (AER), outreach research (OR) and on-farm sites located in varied agro-ecological domains ranging from river basin to high hill environments within the research command area of Agriculture Research Station, Lumle. The field surveys were carried out from November 1999 to June 2000 by using focus group discussion and household survey techniques. For household survey 20% households were sampled by using stratified proportionate sampling technique based on food self-sufficiency. The findings of the study revealed that in normal rice, the varietal diversity was high because of farmers' need to meet irrigation, soil nutrients, grain and straw requirements. The average areas occupied by improve normal and spring rice at the study sites were 42.8% and 41% respectively. In case of upland rice, no single improved variety was reported to be cultivated. The output characteristics (44.2% and 48.5% respectively, in case of normal and spring rice), dominated by yield were the main concern for adopting improved varieties. But, for dropping an improved normal rice variety, output characteristics (60%), dominated by straw traits were important, because straw constituted an important material for fodder, thatching roofs and weaving a ride range of mats and mattresses. For not trying, lack of technical know-how, followed by lack of improved seed in case of normal rice and lack of extension activities, followed by lack of technical know-how in case of spring rice were major concerns. Overall, farmers preferred local verities in both normal and spring rice. Besides, less lodging in normal rice and easier threshing and good cooking qualities in spring rice were important characteristics of improved varieties. In upland rice, less nutrient requirement and higher productivity were highly preferred criteria, followed by early maturity, higher milling recovery and finer grain quality were the major criteria for selecting a variety. The level of household adoption of improved varieties (55.2%) was good in normal rice, but, it was moderate (32.9%) in spring rice. The adoption was higher in research sites and proximal areas than on-farm sites. The average areas occupied by improved varieties among sampled households were respectively, 30.4% and 25.4% in normal and spring rice. Thus, research implications lie in developing breeding strategy in line with the extent of replacement of local verities, by taking into consideration the multiple requirements of the adopting farmers' participatory approach for developing methods and practices. Quality attributes i.e. non-yield parameters should be taken into consideration as screening criteria in breeding programmes. More emphasis should be laid on straw traits of normal rice than in the past, by retaining the superior traits of improved varieties. It would be worthwhile to investigate the genetic base making the varieties suitable for a wide range of agro-ecological environmental conditions. Development implications lie in involvement of farmers in the process of seed production and technology dissemination. Some policy and institutional reforms should be undertaken for easy availability of agricultural inputs, frequent contact with extension workers, increased involvement in farmers' group/co-operatives and increased use of institutional credit. It would be worthwhile to put emphasis on reducing labour intensity while developing / selecting improved varieties and agronomic practices. Farmers’ accessibility to technology and inputs need to be enhanced, for which it may be required to educate them to understand the technology.
A study on identification of farmers' adoption criteria for the selection of improved varieties in normal, spring and upland rice production systems was carried out at 11 sites of different types viz. agro-ecological research (AER), outreach research (OR) and on-farm sites located in varied agro-ecological domains ranging from river basin to high hill environments within the research command area of Agriculture Research Station, Lumle. The field surveys were carried out from November 1999 to June 2000 by using focus group discussion and household survey techniques. For household survey 20% households were sampled by using stratified proportionate sampling technique based on food self-sufficiency. The findings of the study revealed that in normal rice, the varietal diversity was high because of farmers' need to meet irrigation, soil nutrients, grain and straw requirements. The average areas occupied by improve normal and spring rice at the study sites were 42.8% and 41% respectively. In case of upland rice, no single improved variety was reported to be cultivated. The output characteristics (44.2% and 48.5% respectively, in case of normal and spring rice), dominated by yield were the main concern for adopting improved varieties. But, for dropping an improved normal rice variety, output characteristics (60%), dominated by straw traits were important, because straw constituted an important material for fodder, thatching roofs and weaving a ride range of mats and mattresses. For not trying, lack of technical know-how, followed by lack of improved seed in case of normal rice and lack of extension activities, followed by lack of technical know-how in case of spring rice were major concerns. Overall, farmers preferred local verities in both normal and spring rice. Besides, less lodging in normal rice and easier threshing and good cooking qualities in spring rice were important characteristics of improved varieties. In upland rice, less nutrient requirement and higher productivity were highly preferred criteria, followed by early maturity, higher milling recovery and finer grain quality were the major criteria for selecting a variety. The level of household adoption of improved varieties (55.2%) was good in normal rice, but, it was moderate (32.9%) in spring rice. The adoption was higher in research sites and proximal areas than on-farm sites. The average areas occupied by improved varieties among sampled households were respectively, 30.4% and 25.4% in normal and spring rice. Thus, research implications lie in developing breeding strategy in line with the extent of replacement of local verities, by taking into consideration the multiple requirements of the adopting farmers' participatory approach for developing methods and practices. Quality attributes i.e. non-yield parameters should be taken into consideration as screening criteria in breeding programmes. More emphasis should be laid on straw traits of normal rice than in the past, by retaining the superior traits of improved varieties. It would be worthwhile to investigate the genetic base making the varieties suitable for a wide range of agro-ecological environmental conditions. Development implications lie in involvement of farmers in the process of seed production and technology dissemination. Some policy and institutional reforms should be undertaken for easy availability of agricultural inputs, frequent contact with extension workers, increased involvement in farmers' group/co-operatives and increased use of institutional credit. It would be worthwhile to put emphasis on reducing labour intensity while developing / selecting improved varieties and agronomic practices. Farmers’ accessibility to technology and inputs need to be enhanced, for which it may be required to educate them to understand the technology.
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