ADOPTION OF MODERN HIGH YIELDING VARIETIES (HYV) OF WHEAT BY THE FARMERS

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to determine the extent of adoption of modem HYV wheat by the farmers and to explore the relationships between farmers' selected characteristics and their adoption of modem l IYV wheat. Joydebpur Purashava and Basan union of Gazipur Sadar upazila and Kaoraid union of Sreepur upazila under Gazipur distrct were the locales of the study. Data were collected by using interview schedule from 110 farmers selected randomly during 20 October to 20 November, 2007. The finding revealed that a large proportion (44.5 percent) of the farmers/wheat growers had low adoption of modem HYV wheat as compared to 36.4 percent medium adoption and 19.l percent high adoption respectively. Computed coefficient of correlation (r) values indicated that seven out of ten characteristics of the farmers namely, farm size, family income, agricultural training, attitude towards modem HYV wheal cultivation, innovativeness, contact with different media and knowledge on wheat cultivation had significant positive relationship with their adoption of modem HYV wheat. On the other hand, other three characteristics of the farmers namely, age, education and non-localite behaviour had no significant relationship with their adoption of modem HYV wheat. Ten problems of the farmers were identified which they confronted frequently during modem HYV wheat cultivation. Five major problems in descending order of Problem Confrontation Index (PCI) were: (i) high price of fertilizer, (ii) high price of seeds, (iii) lack of HYV wheat seeds in the market. (iv) scarcity of fertilizer supply in time and (v) requires high amount of fertilizer in H YV wheat crops.