Adoption probabilities of modern rice varieties and fertilizer in Sunsari and Morang Districts, Nepal

Date

11-1983

Abstract

Increased adoption of modern varieties and fertilizer use have been emphasized to increase the foodgrain production in Nepal. This study aims to investigate the factors influencing adoption probabilities of modern rice varieties and fertilizer use rates in rice and wheat. A conceptual framework on adoption behavior and adoption probabilities are presented. Various econometric techniques used in adoption studies are reviewed. Survey data of 177 farmers from Sunsari and Morang districts, Nepal were used to test the significance of personal, socio-economic and bio-physical factors with innovation adoption. Analytical tools, Probit model for adoption probabilities of modern rice variety and Tobit regression for fertilizer use rate were employed to estimate the coefficients. Irrigation, credit availability, tenure and extension contacts were positively and significantly associated with adoption of modern varieties. Variety, fertilizer transportation cost, extension contact and credit, in rice and extension contact, irrigation and fertilizer transportation cost, in wheat showed significant association with fertilizer use rate. Among modern variety rice growers, extension contact, credit, fertilizer transportation cost were influential variables for fertilizer use rate. Among various policy alternatives examined to study the impact on number of adoptors and fertilizer use rate, irrigation and credit had larger impact on modern rice variety adoption. Persuading farmers to grow modern variety and farm delivery of fertilizer on rice indicated larger impacts. Similarly, farm delivery of fertilizer, increase in area, on wheat and farm delivery, credit policies on modern varieties showed bigger impacts. The effect of combined policies was larger than sum of effects of individual policies in isolation in modern variety adoption, fertilizer use rate in rice and wheat.

Document Type

Master Thesis

Degree

Master of Science in Agricultural Economics

College

Graduate School (GS)

Adviser/Committee Chair

J.C. Flinn

Language

English

LC Subject

Rice--Nepal--Fertilizers and manures.

Location

UPLB Main Library Special Collections Section (USCS)

Call Number

LG 995 1983 A14 S52

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