systems research - the IDRC Digital Library - International ...
systems research - the IDRC Digital Library - International ... systems research - the IDRC Digital Library - International ...
labor, capital, and draft power spread the harvesting of aus and transplanting of aman over several weeks. The socioeconomic constraints limit the adoption of the BR1 - BR1 1 cropping pattern by farmers. The aman crop is very sensitive to the date of establishment and to moisture stress. If the BR1 variety is not transplanted by 25 May (either because of the delayed onset of wet season or socioeconomic factors), the cropping pattern BR1 - BR11 may not be adopted in the central and eastern parts of Bangladesh. This feedback provided scope for further refinement of the technology and led to the establishment of cut-off dates for the various target areas. Accordingly, cut-off dates were suggested for the northeast area (target area 1) based on a predictive model (Magor et a1 1990) and for the southeast area based on observations (Fig. 1). Alternative cropping patterns were offered to farmers who failed to establish their aus crop by the cut-off date (Table 1). THE PROBLEM BRRI has recommended 26 high-yielding rice varieties suitable all over Bangladesh for specific seasons. The technologies generated by the Rice Farming Systems Division have been tested and proven to be productive and have been adopted in many target areas. For example, in Jamalpur, 100% and 85% of the farmers adopted modern rice varieties in the boro and transplanted aman seasons, respectively (Hoque et a1 1985). Farmers of Bhogra Village in the Gazipur District adopted recommended cropping systems technologies in more than 60% of their land and obtained 1 t/ha more per year than the nonadopters. Similar adoption studies were reported by Asaduzzaman (1979), Herdt and Garcia (1982), Hossain et a1 (1984), Dalrymple (1986), and Hossain (1987). All these studies investigated only the rate of adoption of agricultural technologies and the factors that contributed to the adoption process. None attempted to determine the impact of adoption on income, consumption, and other expenditure patterns. This study attempted to determine the extent of adoption of the farming systems technology and its impact on income, consumption, and other expenditure patterns related to production in the farming community. The results were expected to provide basic information that would guide researchers and policymakers in the efficient allocation of research resources. OBJECTIVES The specific objectives of the study are to determine the extent of adoption of improved cropping systems by farmers; to evaluate the impact of improved cropping systems on resource use and productivity; and to assess the impact of improved cropping systems on farm income, consumption, and other expenditure patterns. In view of the problems and objectives of the study, the following hypotheses were tested: most farmers are adopters of improved cropping systems; the extent of
esource use and productivity varies according to the level of adoption; and income, consumption, and other expenditure patterns vary according to the extent of adoption. Approach METHODOLOGY This was an ex post evaluation of cropping systems research in Bangladesh. It was designed to compare farmers with different levels of adoption and to measure the impact of cropping systems technology on productivity of resources, farmers' income, and expenditure patterns. Site selection Two sites (Kamalganj and Sitakund) were selected for the study. At Kamalganj, cropping systems research was conducted; while at Sitakund, multilocation testing was conducted. At both sites, small-scale pilot production programs had been launched and were productive. Both sites have 200 mm or more rainfall per month from May to September, sandy loam to clay loam soil, flood-free zone (i.e., a maximum level of 30 cm of water after heaw rainfall), and double-rice cropping system previously dominated by local varieties. Selection of villages and farmers Kamalgutij site. A survey was conducted in 13 villages within a radius of 5 km from the Kamalganj bazaar, to collect information on flooding, land holdings, and occupational structure of all households. Villriges prone to flooding were omitted. The remaining seven villages had similar land types. Households whose major source of income was agriculture were included in the sample. Proportionate random samples were drawn from each of the seven villages io obtain 90 respondents. Sirctkzrtzti Sire. A household survey was concluctetl in 16 villages. The villages where agriculture was not the major occupation were excluded. Six villages were selected for the study. From these six villages, 90 I~ouseholds were selected based on proportionate random sampling. Criteria to rate the extent of adoption Several factors affect the recommendations for rainfed lowland rice cropping systems. Factors such as timing, varietal sequence, intensity (single or double
- Page 1 and 2: IRRl DISCUSSION PAPER SERIES NO. 15
- Page 3 and 4: RECEIVED I RECU .- r b :'.i!~atlon
- Page 5 and 6: Welcome address S .P.R. Weerasinghe
- Page 7 and 8: Welcome Address S. P. R. Weerasingh
- Page 9 and 10: Opening Comments After 15 yr of far
- Page 11 and 12: increased as well, but only nlargin
- Page 13 and 14: esult in high incomes for farmers,
- Page 15 and 16: Investor concerns Usually investors
- Page 17 and 18: WORKSHOP OBJECTIVES This workshop i
- Page 19: Rice is the major food crop and die
- Page 23 and 24: Determination of ado,)tion factors
- Page 25 and 26: number of active family members per
- Page 27 and 28: At both sites, more than 73% of the
- Page 29 and 30: Hossain A M, Nur-E-Elahi, Nazrul I
- Page 31 and 32: Table 2. Crop varietal sequence sco
- Page 33 and 34: Table 4. Correlation illatsix used
- Page 35 and 36: - Table 6. Socioeconomic characteri
- Page 37 and 38: Table 8. Extent of adoption and ave
- Page 39 and 40: Table 10. Resource use and producti
- Page 41 and 42: Table 12. Extent of adoption and di
- Page 43 and 44: Table 14. Summary of per hectare ca
- Page 45 and 46: IRlPACT OF FARMING SYSTEMS RESEARCH
- Page 47 and 48: new information collected during FS
- Page 49 and 50: average family owns seven heads of
- Page 51 and 52: H Horticulture. To have a more regu
- Page 53 and 54: improved varieties require higher l
- Page 55 and 56: The types of the training provided
- Page 57 and 58: extension agency in the district, t
- Page 59 and 60: m Extension and other production-su
- Page 61 and 62: Table 3. Farm characteristics of th
- Page 63 and 64: Table 6. Farm practices and product
- Page 65 and 66: Table 8. Major crops, crop varietie
- Page 67 and 68: Table 10. Production and use of mil
- Page 69 and 70: Table 13. Major problems and constr
esource use and productivity varies according to <strong>the</strong> level of adoption; and income,<br />
consumption, and o<strong>the</strong>r expenditure patterns vary according to <strong>the</strong> extent of<br />
adoption.<br />
Approach<br />
METHODOLOGY<br />
This was an ex post evaluation of cropping <strong>systems</strong> <strong>research</strong> in Bangladesh. It was<br />
designed to compare farmers with different levels of adoption and to measure <strong>the</strong><br />
impact of cropping <strong>systems</strong> technology on productivity of resources, farmers'<br />
income, and expenditure patterns.<br />
Site selection<br />
Two sites (Kamalganj and Sitakund) were selected for <strong>the</strong> study. At Kamalganj,<br />
cropping <strong>systems</strong> <strong>research</strong> was conducted; while at Sitakund, multilocation testing<br />
was conducted. At both sites, small-scale pilot production programs had been<br />
launched and were productive. Both sites have 200 mm or more rainfall per month<br />
from May to September, sandy loam to clay loam soil, flood-free zone (i.e., a<br />
maximum level of 30 cm of water after heaw rainfall), and double-rice cropping<br />
system previously dominated by local varieties.<br />
Selection of villages and farmers<br />
Kamalgutij site. A survey was conducted in 13 villages within a radius of 5 km from<br />
<strong>the</strong> Kamalganj bazaar, to collect information on flooding, land holdings, and<br />
occupational structure of all households. Villriges prone to flooding were omitted.<br />
The remaining seven villages had similar land types. Households whose major<br />
source of income was agriculture were included in <strong>the</strong> sample. Proportionate<br />
random samples were drawn from each of <strong>the</strong> seven villages io obtain 90<br />
respondents.<br />
Sirctkzrtzti Sire. A household survey was concluctetl in 16 villages. The villages<br />
where agriculture was not <strong>the</strong> major occupation were excluded. Six villages were<br />
selected for <strong>the</strong> study. From <strong>the</strong>se six villages, 90 I~ouseholds were selected based on<br />
proportionate random sampling.<br />
Criteria to rate <strong>the</strong> extent of adoption<br />
Several factors affect <strong>the</strong> recommendations for rainfed lowland rice cropping<br />
<strong>systems</strong>. Factors such as timing, varietal sequence, intensity (single or double
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