Factors Affecting Adoption of BRRI Released Aus Rice Varieties in Mymensingh District

Abstract

This study was carried out to evaluate the performance of BRRI cultivars, identifying criteria and constraints as well as factors influencing the intensity of BRRI cultivars adoption in Aus season on the farm households in Mymensingh district. The data were collected through structured questionnaires from a total of 390 randomly selected rice farmers from thirteen Upazila of Mymensingh district. The study employed descriptive statistics and Tobit censored regression to determine the adoption and yield status; and adoption intensity determinants. In addition to a total of thirteen FGDs and expert panel interview was conducted to verify the collected data. The results show that 82.04 percent of the area in Mymensingh district was cultivated with rice variety developed by Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRRI) with an average yield of 4.05 t/ha during the Aus season. The findings of the Tobit censored regression indicate that schooling, distance to the local market, training, price variation, taste and preference, amount of cultivated varieties, yield variability were the significant factors of the intensity of BRRI varieties adoption in Aus season. The study's results suggested that breeders should also emphasize the choice of farmers while developing varieties. In addition to developing new rice varieties, BRRI, Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE), Bangladesh Agricultural Corporation (BADC) and other seed producing organizations need to work together to provide the farmers with good quality seeds of BRRI varieties, which will increase the total production of the country, thus helping to ensure food safety.