ADOPTION OF SELECTED HIGH YIELDING VARIETIES OF RICE BY THE FARMERS OF RAJPAT UNION UNDER KASIANI UPAZILA IN GOPALGONJ DISTRICT

Abstract

The main purpose of the study was to determine and describe the extent of adoption of high yielding varieties (HYV) of rice by the farmers of Raj pat union under Kasiani upazila in Gopalgonj district. Attempts were also made to describe some of the selected characteristics of the HYV rice farmers and their relationship with their adoption of I IYV rice. Data were obtained from I 00 randomly selected farmers of two villages namely Rajpat and Shilta with the help of an interview schedule. Data were collected during 15 February to 16 March 2006. The findings revealed that majority (50%) of the HYV rice farmers had medium adoption compared to 5% having low adoption and 45% having high adoption. The selected three varieties were BR26, BRRl Dhan28, and BRRI Dhan29. Among those selected varieties BRR! Dhan-29 variety was overwhelming accepted mostly by the farmers and the adoption index was 11680.87. Correlation test was used to ascertain the relationship between the concerned variable of the study. Out of ten independent variables, farmers' age. level of education, annual income, contact with extension staff, attitude towards HYV rice and knowledge on HYV rice cultivation had significant positive relationship with their adoption of HYV rice. On the other hand family size, farm size, organizational participation and cosmopoliteness of farmers had no relationship with their adoption of selected HYV rice cultivation. Farmers indicated that there were 15 problems. which hindered the adoption of selected HYV rice. Among the problems three important problems were: High price of fertilizer, High price of HYV seeds, Requires of high amount of fertilizer in rice crops.