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Title Factors affecting adoption of semi dwarf wheats in marginal areas: evidence from the rainfed Northern Punjab
 
Names Ahmad, Z.
Ahmad, M.M.
Byerlee, D.
Azeem, M.
Date Issued 1991 (iso8601)
Abstract This study was undertaken in rainfed Pothwar of the Punjab to assess farmers' wheat varietal choices and factors affecting adoption of semi-dwarf varieties. This tract can be divided into three sub-zones based on rainfall -- the high rainfall zone (over 750 mm of annual rainfall), medium rainfall zone (500 to 750 mm) and low rainfall zone (less than 500 mm). Overall, 310 farmers were interviewed from 7 tehsils of the area. In this report more emphasis is given to neglected marginal environments of the area. o The analysis of experimental data for the dry zone indicated that yields of different varieties were influenced strongly by moisture availability in five years of observations. The results showed that old tall varieties, compared to semi-dwarf varieties, were equally good or even better in yield in moisture stress years. Estimates of yield advantage indicated that the improved variety gave 13 percent increase in grain yield and no significant effect on straw yield. On average, local varieties fetch a 15 to 20 percent price premium for grain quality compared to semi-dwarf varieties. Similarly, straw is sold for almost one rupee/kg in drought years. The majority of the farmers in the study area were owner operator. They mostly rented tractors for land preparation and very few dependened only on bullock power. In the low rainfall zone more than one half of the farmers had sandy soils which compound the problem of moisture stress. As in other parts of the Punjab, few farmers had contact with extension department and most had low levels of education. Overall, in the study area, 42 percent of the wheat area was under new semi-dwarf varieties especially Pak-81. In the low rainfall areas only one-fifth of the farmers had adopted this category of varieties. Old semi-dwarf varieties were planted on more than 10 percent of the area. More than one-fifth of the high rainfall farmers had planted these types of varieties (mostly Lyallpur-73). The proportion of wheat area to very old tall varieties was very high in the low rainfall zone. Estimates of the yield advantage of grain and bhusa under farmers conditions indicated that the improved variety gave an estimated 13 percent increase in grain yield (significant at the 20% level). The other factors contributing to grain yields were lepara land type, sole cropping (compared to intercropping with mustard), phosphorous use, farm yard manure application and owner tenancy. The farmers of low rainfall zone stated that they planted old tall varieties due to their drought tolerance characteristics. Also these varieties were preferred for home consumption. The most important reason for planting both old tall and new semi-dwarf varieties was to have one variety for grain and one variety for bhusa. Many farmers also planted both types of varieties for yield comparisons. All the respondents of the sample area who planted new semi-dwarf varieties strongly agreed that these yielded more. Farmers of both the rainfall zones also believed that old tall varieties yielded more and better straw for their livestock and made good chapatis. As in other parts of the country, other farmers were major source of information for agricultural technologies. The majority of the farmers used their own seed for semidwarf and old tall varieties. However, seed depot and other farmers were major sources of seed for initial adoption of improved varieties. Multivariate analysis of factors affecting adoption of semi-dwarf varieties indicated that agro-climatic environments (soil and rainfall distribution) were the most influential factors in adoption of these varieties. Socio-economic variables (education, farm size) and information sources (demonstration plot contact and seed depot visit) were the other factors which significantly influence adoption of these varieties, especially recent adoption behaviour in the dry zone. Considering these factors special breeding efforts for evolving appropriate cultivars for marginal areas and more research on soil and moisture conservation techniques is needed to speed adoption of new varieties in the marginal rainfed areas of the Punjab.
Genre Report
Access Condition Open Access
Identifier http://hdl.handle.net/10883/875