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The yield of rice was significantly higher for adopters than for nonadopters,
and this higher yield was achieved at a lower total cost. Consequently, the net
income obtained from rice cultivation by the adopters was higher than the income
earned by nonadopters.
Second-season potato cultivatiorz. In the case of potato, mean levels of
preharvest labor used were significantly different and higher in nonadopters than in
adopters (Table 5). The amount of labor used by adopters for weeding and fertilizer
application indicated better weed control and better application of fertilizer. Potato
ylelds for nonadopters were higher and resulted in a hlgher gross income. The costs
of cultivation for nonadopters were higher than for adopters by a small margin.
Therefore, nonadopters earned a substantially higher net income from the potato
crop.
Third-season vegetable clrltivatiol7. Preharvest labor for the third-season
vegetable crop was similar for the two groups, except for a few crop-care operations
(Table 6). Adopters used higher amounts of labor for weeding, pest and disease
control, and harvesting. This may be related to their significantly higher yields.
Nonadopters spent significantly more on seeds; whereas, adopters spent more on
agrochemicals. Although the total cost of cultivation was higher in the adopter
group than in the nonadopter group, the adopters earned higher net returns from
their higher yields.
An overall comparison of input use indicates that adopters often use fewer
inputs and have managed to lessen their cost of culti\lation. Yield levels of adopters
were higher for two of the three crops grown, which indicated that the average
productivity of*the inputs was high. This led to higher g~oss and net returns for
adopters (except in potato production). Returns to capltal and returns to labor were
higher for adopters. This provided further proof that the adopters were able to use
their resources more efficiently (Table 7).
Technological changes
Production functions with several independent variables were estimated separately
for the three cro ping seasons. The estimated production functions for all three
crops were signi P icantly different (structurally) between the two groups of farmers.
This indicates that the production functions of all three crops had undergone
structural changes because of the impact of the FSR technology. In fact, only the
rice crop underwent a radical change; the old traditional rice varieties were replaced
with improved varieties. The changes in potato and vegetable production resulted
from a readjustment of the cropping system to the first change. This secondary
change had a negative effect on the productivity of potatoes and a positive effect on
the productivity of vegetables. Early planting of potato, which was a secondary
change, exposed the crop to heavy winds and to deficient moisture during the period
of tuber formation. Farmers suggested these reasons for the lower yields. For
vegetables, sufficient time was saved to allow for a longer duration and betterplanned
vegetable crop, which increased yields.