Untitled - CGIAR Impact

28 ECONOMIC CONSEQUENCES OF NEW RICE TECHNOLOGY
Table 2. Seasonwise production potential and yield gap on rice farms, Bangladesh. 1975-76.
Paddy
(t/ha)
Aus
upland
(semidry season)
Aman
rainfed
(wet season)
Boro
irrigated
(dry season)
1. Maximum yield at
Experiment Station
5.4
5.5
6.3
2. Maximum yield at
farmer‘s plot
(crop-cut survey)
5.4
4.7
7.3
3. Potential yield at
farmer’s plot (agronomic
field trials)
5.8
4.7
6.2
4. Yield gap I
I1 = (difference
between no. 1 & 2)
I2 = (difference
between no.1 & 3)
5. Average farmer‘s yield
0
-0.4
2.2
0.8
0.8
2.8
1.0
0.1
3.7
6. Yield gap II
II1 = (difference
between no. 2 & 5)
3.2
1.9
3.6
II2 = (difference
between no. 3 & 5)
3.6
1.9
2.5
technology in the farmers’ field for different seasons were determined in the
pilot project area of the Bangladesh Rice Research Institute. The average yield
of rice farms and the corresponding yield gap in each season were measured
(Table 2).
The potential yield was highest in boro with irrigation. The potential yield
level was determined on the basis of trials in farmers’ fields. Maximum yield in
farmers’ plots was determined by crop-cut. It was assumed that the high yield
level attainable by a certain farmer could be considered as the potential yield
level for that area. That level was consistent with the potential yield determined
by the agronomic field trials in farmers’ fields, except in boro when farmers’
yield was much higher than the yield at the experiment station.
The higher productivity of rice farms was associated with the extent and
effective adoption of modem rice varieties and associated technology. In aus,
early drought and weed infestation limited the cultivation of the modern rice
varieties. Water depth, and photoperiod sensitivity in case of late planting are
problems in the successful cultivation of the modern rice varieties in the transplanted
aman season. The modem rice varieties are generally suitable for growing
in boro except that they are susceptible to low temperature.
The socioeconomic investigation of technology adoption and the productivity
analysis in the pilot project area revealed a higher yield potential of the
modern varieties, but the unavailability of essential inputs limited their spread.