Motivations for adopting biological control among Iranian rice farmers

While research on biological control of crop pests is quite popular, it seldom targets motivations of farmers for adopting this practice. A survey of 283 rice farmers was conducted in Mazandaran province of northern Iran to study farmers' motivations for biological control adoption as an alternative control method of Asiatic rice borer [Chilo suppressalis (Walker)] and explain potential differences in motivations among different groups of farmers. Face to face interviews were used to address farmers' motivations based on a list of motivation statements found in previous studies and modified by extension officers and farmers who had adopted biological control in the study area. Factor analysis of a motivation list with 15 items revealed four main groups of factors explaining the adoption of biological control by rice farmers; these were ‘health maintenance’, ‘economic benefit’, ‘social acceptance’, and ‘environmental protection’. Men gave high scores to motivations related to ‘economic benefit’ and ‘social acceptance’, whereas women preferred mostly motivations related to ‘health maintenance’. Well-educated farmers (e.g., some college education) preferred motivations for ‘health maintenance’ more than farmers with lower education or no education at all. Participation in extension programs was associated with preference of non-economic motivations of biological control adoption, while membership in local associations (such as rural cooperatives or producers' groups) encouraged motivations related to ‘social acceptance’. Farmers who used family labor force in their fields or farmers who perceived pesticides as harmful substances showed strong motivations primarily for ‘health maintenance’ along with ‘environmental protection’. Small area of land under cultivation and low annual farm income were strongly linked with motivations for ‘economic benefit’. Besides economic motivations, policies for the promotion of biological control adoption should embrace a wide set of farmers' motivations when developing new and properly tailored extension programs.     

Choices of Varieties and Demand for Improved Rice Seed in Fogera District of Ethiopia

In this study, 151 households were randomly drawn from three randomly selected Kebele in probability proportional to size method. The demographic and socio-economic factors that determine the participation in improved varieties were household labor availability, education level of the household head, land holdings, distance to the nearest village market, proximity to the main market, and distance to access agricultural extension and access to the source of rice seeds. However, determinants of choice decision varied from cultivar to cultivar. The evidence of the study from the interdependence among the decision of adoption of improved rice varieties suggested that technology adoption will be accelerated by launching a progressively developing package and scheme of rice technology generation, and points to the importance of mobilising additional resources to augment households’ efforts at popularization and promotion of improved rice cultivars. The findings from Linearized Almost Ideal Demand Systems (LA/AIDS) model showed that compelling evidence for small proportion changes in own prices and cross price of improved rice varieties led to greater than unitary proportionate changes in their purchases. The results generally showed that farmers were very sensitive to changes in improved rice seed prices and incomes. The major implication of the findings was that any intervention to improve farmers’ seed purchases should take into account efforts to increase farmers’ purchasing power of agricultural inputs like improved seeds and fertilizers.     

Adoption of Improved Rice Varieties in the Global South: A Review

Improved rice varieties(IRVs) play a significant role in establishing food security and improving livelihood in the Global South since its introduction in the 1960s. However, the adoption of new IRVs has remained relatively low. This low adoption poses a challenge to rice-producing and consuming countries as they are increasingly threatened by production shortages, malnutrition, and poor rice quality. Many empirical studies have attempted to identify the determinants influencing the adoption of ...     

Evaluating smallholder farmers’ demand for rice variety attributes in Nepal

Despite the release of many modern varieties of rice (Oryza sativa), farmers in Nepal have been cultivating relatively few rice varieties. The objective of this study is to estimate farmers’ demand for rice variety attributes and to identify the factors that influence their decision regarding varietal choice. Yield increase is considered jointly with other attributes, such as cooking and eating quality, drought tolerance, and maturity period. Choice experiments were conducted and results showed that there was significant demand from farming households for yield increase, improvement in cooking and eating quality, tolerant to drought, and short maturing varieties. The choice data were analyzed using a multinomial and random parameter logit model. From a policy perspective, results showed that for broader adoption of crop varieties, variety development programs should give priority to aforementioned attributes rather than solely on increased crop productivity.     

Understanding smallholder farmers’ access to maize seed and seed quality in the drought-prone Central Rift Valley of Ethiopia

Despite efforts made by the Ethiopian research and extension system during the past 40 years to disseminate improved maize (Zea mays L.) variety seeds for increased crop production, the diffusion and use remained low, particularly in moisture-stressed areas. The topic of smallholder farmers’ access to quality seed is an ongoing issue in Ethiopia. The purpose of this paper is to identify and explain maize seed sources for smallholder farmers and assess the seed quality status in the drought-prone Central Rift Valley (CRV) of Ethiopia. Data for this study were obtained from farm households and other stakeholders survey in 2011 from East Shewa Zone, Oromia Regional National State. The survey results indicated that informal seed sources contributed 84% of annually planted maize seed. Sixty percent of maize growers obtained improved seed through farmer-to-farmer seed exchange and the informal seed market (ISM). Regarding the socioeconomic characteristics and maize seed acquisition behavior of the farm-household heads, a higher proportion of female-headed households and resource-poor farm households depended on other farmers and ISM than male-headed farm households. A quarter of the better-off maize-grower households also used ISM. Formal seed sources were found to be key in new variety introduction. The quality of the seeds obtained from informal sources was found to be acceptable relative to purity and germination. The effectiveness of the seed-supply system tended to rely on the complementary integration of formal and informal seed systems, as both systems had their own peculiarities in serving the farm community to enhance food security.     

Adoption of improved crop varieties by involving farmers in the e-wallet program in Nigeria

The amount of improved seed used in Nigeria is extremely low. Overall, only 5–10% of cultivated land is planted with improved seeds, and about 10% of rural farmers use improved varieties. The objective of this investigation was to identify determinants of adoption of improved seed by farmers not participating in and those participating in the federal government’s e-wallet program in Nigeria. We determined the impact of the e-wallet program on adoption of improved seed in rural areas. A total of 1200 rural farmers were sampled across six geopolitical zones of Nigeria. Results from the use of a bivariate probit model indicated that the e-wallet program continued to become increasingly popular among rural farmers; and that farmers’ literacy, ownership of a mobile phone, value output, mobile network coverage, power for charging phone batteries and contact with extension agents were the positive determinants of farmer participation in the e-wallet program. Cultural obstacles to married women, growers’ age, and increased distance to registration and input collection centers reduced farmers’ tendency to participate in the e-wallet program. The results also showed that rural farmers depended on the e-wallet program for increased use and adoption of improved seed in Nigeria, to boost food security in sub-Saharan Africa. The results suggested the need for an improved e-wallet model by lessening constraints mostly associated with rural information and communication infrastructure, and distance to the registration and input collection centers.     

Predicting adoption of double cropping in paddy fields of northern Iran: a comparison of statistical methods

Factors affecting the adoption of double cropping were explored in rice farms of Fouman County of Guilan Province in northern Iran using artificial neural networks (ANNs), linear discriminant analysis (LDA), and logistic regression (LGR). Eleven factors (age, education, occupation, family size, type of farm ownership, distance to the agricultural service center, attending agricultural extension courses, use of financial resources and bank loans, number of domestic animals, area under cultivation, and social participation) were examined. An additional objective was to compare the ability of the three models in predicting the adoption of double cropping. ANNs showed an overall predictive power of 89.8%. LDA showed an overall predictive power of 83.2%, with seven of the eleven independent variables being effective on the adoption of double cropping. LGR indicated an overall predictive power of 87.6%, with eight of the eleven independent variables being effective on the adoption of double-rice cropping. ANNs showed higher power than LGR and LDA in predicting the adoption of double cropping. Based on all three methods used for analysis, the most important independent variables were social participation and area under cultivation (positive factors) as well as distance to the agricultural service center and family members (negative factors). Establishment of cooperatives or other kinds of farmers’ associations to foster social participation could motivate adoption of double cropping, particularly among small-scale farmers. To increase agricultural services, more local centers should be created in rural areas. The government should promote double cropping through effective incentives and technology transfer to small-scale farmers.     

Multidisciplinary assessment of agricultural innovation and its impact: a case study of lowland rice variety WITA 9 in Côte d’Ivoire

ABSTRACT

Information on comprehensive evaluation of agricultural innovations is often limited. This study provides an overview of multidisciplinary evaluation of a lowland rice variety, WITA 9 (released in Côte d’Ivoire in 1998), with respect to its agronomic performance, grain quality, resistance to diseases, adoption by farmers, impact on productivity and farmers’ income, and marketability. WITA 9 had the highest paddy yield among the tested varieties including an international check (IR 64) and recently developed varieties adapted to this country. WITA 9 had a higher amylose content (26–28%) than others tested. This study confirmed its resistance to bacterial leaf blight, Rice yellow mottle virus (RYMV), and rice blast. A household survey showed that the adoption rate was 24%, its paddy yield advantage was 0.7 t ha^–1, and its adoption increased farmer’s income by US$ 91 ha^–1 per season. A market study showed that consumers’ willingness to pay was higher for WITA 9 than any other locally produced rice variety and comparable to imported rice in one of two markets. We conclude that WITA 9 is an ideal innovation for enhancing productivity and rice import substitution in Côte d’Ivoire. An effective seed delivery system and enhancing farmers’ and consumers’ awareness of this variety are vital for accelerating impact.     

农户对不同属性香蕉技术需求及其影响因素分析——以广东香蕉主产区为例

本文从影响蕉农技术采用行为因素分析入手,通过对广东香蕉主产区164户种植业农户的实地调查,运用Logistic模型探讨农户对新品种技术、灌溉技术、施肥技术、花果管理技术、病虫害防治技术和果园农机技术需求意愿及其影响因素。结果表明,不同家庭特征和技术诱导情况的蕉农表现出不同的需求行为,各解释变量对农户整体技术需求有影响,但对农户采用不同属性技术的影响各不相同。     

中国水稻品种推广趋向分析

对1986-2003年全国水稻主要推广品种的分析表明,"七五"以来中国水稻品种推广趋向表现为:品种数量明显增加,单个品种年均推广面积显著下降,大面积推广品种逐渐减少,主栽品种跨省推广比例及更新速度基本稳定.对常规稻与杂交稻品种推广情况作了比较,对水稻品种推广与水稻育种、种业发展等问题进行了讨论.     

The methods to consolidate scattered tenanted lots into large rice paddy lots by the land consolidation projects in Japan

Today in Japan, agricultural productivity of rice cropping farmers is low. In order to get sufficient agricultural productivity, Japanese government is encouraging enlarging core farmers' farm sizes to 10–20 ha by borrowing farm lots from retiring farmers of small farms and carrying out the land consolidation projects to construct large rice paddy lots. In order to realize large rice paddy lots of more than several hectares, it is necessary to consolidate small scattered leased farm lots of core tenant farmers, but it is supposed to be very difficult. In order to clarify how to consolidate those leased lots into large rice paddy lots, I investigated five land consolidation project areas in which large rice paddy lots of more than several hectares were constructed for core tenant farmers. The result shows that (1) large rice paddy lots for core tenant farmers were settled in relatively inferior areas of the project areas, for instance, far from the land owners' residence area. (2) Basically land lenders do not accept their substitute lots settled into large rice paddy lots in such inferior areas, (3) but some land lenders who were eager to lend their farmland to core farmers accepted their substitute lots in such inferior areas. (4) Even in cases that tenant farmers could not consolidate substitute lots of their tenant land into large rice paddy lots, they could consolidate their cultivating lots by adjusting user rights, that is, exchange of user rights of lots between land lenders whose substitute lots were located outside of a large rice paddy lot area and owner farmers whose substitute lots were located in the area. (5) Owner farmers accepted this adjustment on their farmland as they could cultivate superior lots, consolidate their scattered cultivating lots into one place and so on.     

Variation in Grain Quality of Upland Rice from Luang Prabang Province,Lao PDR

Luang Prabang Province is located within the area recognized as the center of rice(Oryza sativa L.) diversity in Lao PDR. This study reported on grain quality characteristics of 60 upland rice seed samples sharing 49 variety names collected from 6 villages in Luang Prabang in 2015. Most of the samples has non-pigmented pericarp, while red pericarp was found in four samples and purple in five samples. Almost all of the samples were of large grain type, with glutinous endosperm in 70% and non-glutinous endosperm in 30%. The brown(unpolished) rice was found with a wide range of grain nutritional quality, including protein(9.2% ± 0.9%), Fe(15.9 ± 6.9 mg/kg), Zn(19.6 ± 2.1 mg/kg), anthocyanin(0.774 ± 0.880 mg/g), and anti-oxidative capacity(2.071 ± 1.373 mg/g). The varieties sharing similar names had similar morphological characteristics but varied in nutritional concentration, with required confirmation in genetic variation analysis. This study found that some rice varieties with high grain quality may benefit the farmers directly or could be used in varietal improvement programs.     

Climate variability and yield risk in South Asia’s rice–wheat systems: emerging evidence from Pakistan

Rice and wheat are the principal calorie sources for over a billion people in South Asia, although each crop is particularly sensitive to the climatic and agronomic management conditions under which they are grown. Season-long heat stress can reduce photosynthesis and accelerate senescence; if extreme heat stress is experienced during flowering, both rice and wheat may also experience decreased pollen viability and stigma deposition, leading to increased grain sterility. Where farmers are unable to implement within-season management adaptations, significant deviations from expected climatic conditions would affect crop growth, yield, and therefore have important implications for food security. The influence of climatic conditions on crop growth have been widely studied in growth chamber, greenhouse, and research station trials, although empirical evidence of the link between climatic variability and yield risk in farmers’ fields is comparatively scarce. Using data from 240 farm households, this paper responds to this gap and isolates the effects of agronomic management from climatic variability on rice and wheat yield risks in eight of Pakistan’s twelve agroecological zones. Using Just and Pope production functions, we tested for the effects of crop management practices and climatic conditions on yield and yield variability for each crop. Our results highlight important risks to farmers’ ability to obtain reliable yield levels for both crops. Despite variability in input use and crop management, we found evidence for the negative effect of both season-long and terminal heat stress, measured as the cumulative number of days during which crop growth occurred above critical thresholds, though wheat was considerably more sensitive than rice. Comparing variation in observed climatic parameters in the year of study to medium-term patterns, rice, and wheat yields were both negatively affected, indicative of production risk and of farmers’ limited capacity for within-season adaptation. Our findings suggest the importance of reviewing existing climate change adaptation policies that aim to increase cereal farmers’ resilience in Pakistan, and more broadly in South Asia. Potential agronomic and extension strategies are proposed for further investigation.     

Seed yielding ability of landraces of lucerne in Italy

Seed yield is of crucial importance for the marketing of lucerne varieties. Statistical records for farmers’ production of certified seed suggested a slightly higher seed‐yielding ability of Italian landraces over improved varieties (proportionately 0·052). The aims were to: (i) assess the variation among landraces, and compare the germplasm of landrace and improved varieties, for seed‐yielding ability; and (ii) investigate the relationships between seed yield, environment of origin and forage yield of the landraces. Thirteen farm landraces belonging to the seven commercial ecotypes of northern Italy and four improved varieties were evaluated for seed yield in the third cropping year and for herbage yield over twelve harvests. Landraces differed in seed yield and herbage yield (P < 0·05). Landrace material, compared with variety germplasm, showed a non‐significant trend towards higher seed yield (proportionately 0·047) and had similar herbage yield and plant density at the onset of the third cropping year. Seed yield of landraces was unrelated to forage yield and was associated with frequent mowing and earlier year of seed production on its farm of origin.     

大豆主导品种、主推技术及其推广应用

2005年以来,农业部连续4年开展了大宗农产品主导品种、主推技术推介工作。4年间,共推介大豆主导品种22个、大豆综合配套栽培技术4项。主导品种和主推技术的推介,加快了新品种、新技术的推广速度,充分展现了科技对粮食增产、农业增效和农民增收的支撑作用。介绍了农业部推介大豆主导品种的类型、适宜区域和在生产中的比重和作用,分析了主推技术的要点和增产效益,比较了大豆主要品种与水稻、小麦、玉米、棉花、油菜等大田主要品种覆盖比例的大小。从主要品种占全国总播种面积的比例看,六大作物品种区域适应能力排序为：玉米〉小麦〉棉花〉大豆〉油菜〉水稻。作者提出,在今后的大豆育种工作中,应重点加强品种适应性的改良;在主导品种推介中,应适当增加大豆、水稻等光温敏感、区域性强、适应范围窄等作物的主导品种数目。     

Improve Anthocyanin and Zinc Concentration in Purple Rice by Nitrogen and Zinc Fertilizer Application

Zinc (Zn) is an essential micronutrient for plant growth and development, and anthocyanin is a secondary metabolite compound generally produced under stress conditions; both have benefits to human health. Rice is a staple food crop for most of the world’s population, and purple rice is well known as a natural source of Zn and anthocyanins, but their stability depends upon many factors. This review focuses on the opportunity to increase Zn and anthocyanin compounds in purple rice grains via Zn and nitrogen (N) management during cultivation. Variation in grain Zn concentration and anthocyanin compounds is found among purple rice varieties, thus presenting a challenge for breeding programs aiming at high grain Zn and anthocyanin contents. Genetic engineering has successfully achieved a high-efficiency vector system comprising two regulatory genes and six structural anthocyanin-related genes driven by endosperm-specific promoters to engineer purple endosperm rice that can provide new high-anthocyanin varieties. Grain Zn and anthocyanin concentrations in rice can also be affected by environmental factors during cultivation, e.g., light, temperature, soil salinity and nutrient (fertilizer) management. Applying N and Zn fertilizer is found to influence the physiological mechanisms of Zn absorption, uptake, transport and remobilization to promote grain Zn accumulation in rice, while N application can improve anthocyanin synthesis by promoting its biosynthesis pathway via the use of phenylalanine as a precursor. In summary, there is an opportunity to improve both grain Zn and anthocyanin in purple rice by appropriate management of Zn and N fertilizers during cultivation for specific varieties.     

Logistic Regression Analysis on Factors Affecting Adoption of Rice-Fish Farming in North Iran

We evaluated the factors influencing the adoption of rice-fish farming in the Tavalesh region near the Caspian Sea in northern Iran.We conducted a survey with open-ended questions.Data were collected from 184 respondents(61 adopters and 123 non-adopters) randomly sampled from selected villages and analyzed using logistic regression and multi-response analysis.Family size,number of contacts with an extension agent,participation in extension-education activities,membership in social institutions and the presence of farm workers were the most important socio-economic factors for the adoption of rice-fish farming system.In addition,economic problems were the most common issue reported by adopters.Other issues such as lack of access to appropriate fish food,losses of fish,lack of access to high quality fish fingerlings and dehydration and poor water quality were also important to a number of farmers.     

水稻的再生率及其与产量性状的关系

以30个不同类型的水稻品种(组合)为材料，研究了其再生率表现及其与头季和再生季产量性状的相关性。结果表明，供试材料的再生率表现出较大差异，其中恢复系198和986再生率较高，可作为选配高再生率杂交稻的亲本；杂交组合培两优500、陆18S／288和准两优198再生率较高，可在生产上进一步试种。水稻再生率与再生稻的产量、有效穗数和结实率呈不同程度的正相关，说明通过提高水稻再生率来增加再生稻产量是可行的；水稻再生率与头季稻的结实率呈极显著正相关，故选择高再生率水稻品种(组合)，要求头季稻结实率高；水稻再生力的指标以最终再生率(再生季有效穗数／头季有效穗数)或最高再生率(再生季最高苗数／头季有效穗数)表示更具有实际意义。