A century of rice improvement in Burma - IRRI books - International ...

More documents

Recommendations

Info

weather that it influenced rice production more than technological factors did.This was the only environment where the variable X 23 (program life) had anegative sign. With the pervading weather adversity in this environment, riceyield started to decline in the later part of the program period, resulting in thenegative effects of X 17 and X 23 . As to X 11 (area per extension worker), the dryzone rainfed had a mean value of 710 ha, which was considered large under theexisting infrastructure. Negative X 2 (row transplanted area %) was also presumedto be weather-related. This environment has to be studied morecarefully before final program plans are made. Unless a breakthrough inresearch to contain adverse conditions is achieved (through new MVs or newtechnology), continuation of the WTRPP in this area is not recommended.Unlike the rainfed dry zone environment, the dry zone irrigated environmenthad only 3 significant variables with an 81% coefficient of determination.Intercultivation was again an important impact point, underscoringthe importance of weeding under the dry zone environment. Two othervariables—X 7 (urea fertilizer application) and X 23 (program experience)-brought about change in rice yield. Other variables showed no significantchange like area sown to MV (this variable previously exhibited an effect inother environments). This is probably because the dry zone irrigated environmenthad already reached the maximum level of MV production, andfurther increases would have necessitated introduction of newer techniques.In the meantime, intercultivation, urea application, and improvement inmanagement efficiency should be done to further induce yield.The northeastern environment was slow in adopting the new technologydue to lack of accessibility and the very favorable man-to-land ratio. Therewere fewer infrastructure facilities and less population pressure. However, asthe population began to increase, Shan and Karen States became rice-deficitareas and relied on other divisions for supply. Moreover, most areas weresituated on hills and in valleys, representing a completely different environment.The results in the table indicate that eight variables were statisticallysignificant (86% coefficient of determination), with two variables having anegative sign. The factors that positively influenced yield per hectare were:area sown with MV,row transplanted area,area sown with 25- to 30-day-old-seedlings,area per extension worker,farmers’ training, andvoluntary labor contribution.These variables were expected to have an impact on yield in an environmentrelatively slow in adopting new technology. The reasons given for otherenvironments still hold. In most environments, the MVs should possess coldtolerance. The existing area sown to MVs included irrigated rice and varietiescultivated early to escape the cold spell. Such a practice was not possible in allRICE PRODUCTION UNDER THE SOCIALIST REPUBLIC GOVERNMENT 103
places. Areas with late rainfall had to rely on traditional varieties that wereknown to tolerate low temperatures. Many areas used upland rice cultivationbecause of the hilly nature and physical conditions of the sites.Two variables with negative signs were X 7 (urea application) and X 13 (stafftraining). One would not expect fertilizer to have a negative effect on rice yield.But it appeared that fertilizer availability became limited in the final phase ofthe program when demand far exceeded supply. A closer look at the fertilizersupply in the area revealed a decrease from 100 kg/ha before 1980 to 75 kg/ha as the program expanded in other areas. Though the effect of X 7 continuouslydecreased during the program years, other factors such as X 1 , X 2 , X 3 , andX 15 had a positive influence; all combined had a positive effect on yield andoffset the possible loss due to the lower rate of fertilizer use. This resulted ina gradual yield increase in this area. The negative sign in X 13 (the number ofstaff trained during the year) indicated that the extension workers in thecoastal areas should not be away too long from their duty stations.Altogether, the independent variables chosen for the analysis indicated astrong impact on rice yield—many with positive and a few with negativeeffects. These variables differed in the magnitude of their effects in differentenvironments. The most important variable that greatly contributed to yieldchange was area sown with MVs. Undoubtedly, the effect due to MVs includedthe effect due to fertilizers since they could not be estimated separately.Another variable that substantially contributed to change in rice yield wasprogram life. This meant that the rich experience gained by extension personnelwas quite instrumental in affecting yield. This finding emphasizes the importanceof management efficiency and of motivating responsible administratorsin effective technology transfer.The results also yielded information that may be useful in mapping futureresearch and extension strategies in different regions of the country. Theseresults, if examined in the light of the level of adoption of the independentvariables, would certainly reveal gaps that have to be filled in future programs.Inasmuch as rice production was mainly rainfed, weather consciousnesswould remain an important factor. A technological approach in consonancewith weather behavior would maximize effects. Table 54 indicates the presentlevel of technological adoption of the various variables used in this analysis.It shows the potential of each variable with the existing technology underdifferent environments.Adoption of various technologies varied with environment (Table 54).The reasons for nonadoption could be 1) farmers were not properly convincedof their usefulness, and 2) that the technology was simply not suitable to theirsituation.The most important variable, use of MVs, played a central role in theadoption process. It required the use of manure and fertilizers along withcorrect seedling age and correct plant population.104 A CENTURY OF RICE IMPROVEMENT IN BURMA
Page 3 and 4:
The International Rice Research Ins
Page 5 and 6:
Rice trading 29Rice milling 29Rice
Page 8:
ForewordRice dominates Burma’s ec
Page 11 and 12:
ice production in the last decade.
Page 14 and 15:
CHAPTER IIntroductionBurma is situa
Page 16 and 17:
1. Trends in rice area and producti
Page 18 and 19:
3. Soil distribution.INTRODUCTION 5
Page 20 and 21:
and the rest of the country in 1885
Page 22 and 23:
Rice production growth during this
Page 24 and 25:
4. Rice threshing with cattle.5. Ri
Page 26 and 27:
7. Transplanting.Farmers classify r
Page 28:
8. States and Divisions (1-7 are di
Page 43:
Table 11. Rice mills, 1894-1934 (DA
Page 51 and 52:
Rice area and productionAlthough th
Page 53 and 54:
Table 16. Rice production in select
Page 55 and 56:
Tenants of State Agricultural BankA
Page 57 and 58:
in 1960, representing a 17% increas
Page 59:
Table 20. Summary of extension acti
Page 62 and 63:
Table 24. Rice procurement by diffe
Page 64 and 65:
This trade reduction severely affec
Page 66: conditions and a weak international
Page 69 and 70: the design, implementation, and eva
Page 71 and 72: Table 27 indicates the areas plante
Page 73 and 74: The coastal zone comprised four ric
Page 78 and 79: In the meantime, local researchers
Page 80 and 81: Table 35. Rice area planted, by gra
Page 83 and 84: All fertilizers were imported until
Page 85 and 86: points, 3) availability of cash amo
Page 87 and 88: hispa Hispa armigera. Though annual
Page 89 and 90: The amounts of agricultural loans g
Page 91 and 92: from double-cropped areas (Table 44
Page 93 and 94: when investment in the agricultural
Page 96 and 97: The program brought research and ex
Page 98 and 99: Table 46. Average area of responsib
Page 100 and 101: established practice among farmers,
Page 102 and 103: 12. Voluntary labor harvesting rice
Page 104 and 105: of harvesting. It sought voluntary
Page 106 and 107: nents that a larger project would r
Page 108 and 109: Table 48. Changes in area planted t
Page 110 and 111: Table 50. Average yield and product
Page 112 and 113: Results of analysisOf the variables
Page 114 and 115: Of the 19 variables used, 11 were s
Page 118 and 119: Table 54. Present level of technolo
Page 120 and 121: size of holdings, 40% of the prize
Page 122 and 123: average yield at that time was 2.20
Page 124 and 125: Table 59. Monthly transactions of t
Page 126 and 127: Table 61. Irrigated areas for rice,
Page 128 and 129: Table 62. Tillage operation by trac
Page 130 and 131: 18. AFPTC rice procurement center.A
Page 132 and 133: Table 65. Annual rice procurement (
Page 134 and 135: for seeds; still others sold their
Page 136 and 137: primarily to help achieve the AFPTC
Page 138 and 139: Table 67. Annual rice production an
Page 140 and 141: Table 68. Comparison of paid-out co
Page 142 and 143: CHAPTER VImplications for the futur
Page 144 and 145: agricultural research can be brough
Page 146 and 147: Motivation of scientistsUnder these
Page 148 and 149: or as individuals. Research is to b
Page 150 and 151: CHAPTER VIConclusionsBurma’s econ
Page 152 and 153: References citedAdas M (1974) The B
Page 154: SRUB—The socialist Republic of th
Page 157 and 158: Appendix 1 continuedSown area Produ
Page 159 and 160: Appendix II continuedShareRice a Al
Page 161 and 162: Appendix IV continuedYear Exports Y
Page 163 and 164: Appendix VIcontinuedVariable Symbol
Page 165 and 166: All combined1977-84 1977-78 1978-79
Page 167 and 168:
Appendix VIII. Correlation coeffici
Page 170 and 171:
IndexAdas, M 6Africa 125, 137Agricu
Page 172 and 173:
farmers 6-9, 13, 18, 23, 25-26, 29,
Page 174 and 175:
Okpo Small Loan Department110, 111O
show all

A century of rice improvement in Burma - IRRI books - International ...

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?