FACTORS OF ADOPTION AND FARMERS’ PERCEPTIONS ON IMPROVED LENTIL VARIETY CULTIVATION IN BANGLADESH

Factors of adoption and farmers’ perceptions on improved lentil…

Abstract

For a sector to be successful in bringing innovation at the farm level, an understanding of potential adopters and the factors influencing their adoption decision is important. Hence, this study investigated the determinants of adoption and explored farmers’ perceptions on improved lentil variety cultivation at the farm level in Bangladesh. The study analyzed 360 household’s data collected from 240 improved lentil variety adopters and 120 non-adopters spread in the six lentil growing districts namely Faridpur, Magura, Kushtia, Jhenaidah, Manikgonj, and Sirajganj. Along with descriptive statistics, the study used probit regression model for analyzing the data. About 71% of households adopted improved lentil varieties, and 29% used local cultivars. BARI Masur-8 was the highest adopted variety in the highly-intensive growing areas, whereas BARI Masur-6 and BARI Masur-4 were popular in the medium-intensive and low-intensive growing areas. Pulse training, profitability of production, farmers’ innovativeness, and farmer’s extension contact were the major factors of improved variety adoption. Most farmers wanted to increase improved lentil cultivation in the next year considering the higher yield and net benefits. On the contrary, a good proportion of lentil farmers also wanted to decrease lentil cultivation due to lack of suitable land, biotic and abiotic stresses, and seeds of improved variety.