Open AccessTechnology adoption in maize farming: a comparative analysis between improved seed users and local seed users of Argakachi district of Nepal
Author(s) -
Surya Prasad Adhikari,
Bhishma Raj Dahal,
Vivek Bist
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
agricultural science and technology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1314-412X
pISSN - 1313-8820
DOI - 10.15547/ast.2019.04.056
Subject(s) - agriculture , business , context (archaeology) , productivity , agricultural science , scope (computer science) , agricultural machinery , government (linguistics) , benefit–cost ratio , sowing , crop , agricultural extension , agricultural economics , marketing , geography , agronomy , economics , production (economics) , economic growth , biology , forestry , linguistics , philosophy , archaeology , computer science , programming language , macroeconomics , internal rate of return
. Maize is one of the top agricultural commodities that has great share in the Agricultural Government Development Plan of Nepal. Despite being a major crop, productivity of maize is quite lower than global average. In this context, a study was undertaken to determine the extent of technology adoption between improved and local seed users of Arghakhanchi district of Nepal. A pretested semi-structured questionnaire was administered among 120 randomly selected farmers during the month of January 2018. The extent of technology adoption was measured on sowing time, seed replacement, variety change, seed rate, application of fertilizer, weeding and plant protection. The empirical evidence suggested that, extent of technology adoption and benefit cost ratio were magnificently higher for improved seed users than local seed users. So, there is still a gigantic scope to improve maize productivity in the area by adoption of recommended technology of maize farming. The probability of adoption of recommended technology (improved seed) for maize farming was found to be higher for those with access to extensive service. Overall, our study pointed out that extension facility is a key strategy to make famers aware of the new technologies and a crucial factor to increase the chance of adoption.