Studies on Policy Option for Quality Seed Production and ... - NFPCSP

4.2.20 Seed drying place of wheat as used by the farmersThe seed moisture content can be used as an indicator for safe storage into the storage containers. At allthe study sites, a lion’s part of the sample farmers (69%, 63% and 65% farmers in Rajshahi, Dinajpurand Rangpur, respectively) dried their wheat grain/seed on the ground ( katcha floor) which was notsufficient for reducing the seed moisture up to the standard level required for `safe storage’ i.e. within10-12% (Table 4.2.19). The percentage of farmers those who dried wheat seed on polythene sheet were23%, 18% and 24% in Rajshahi, Dinajpur and Rangpur, respectively. A fewer number of farmers usedplastic/cloth and cemented (pucca) floor (average of 10% and 3% farmers) for seed drying in the studyareas.Table 4.2.19 Seed drying place of wheat as used by the farmers at the study areasFarmers’ category%farmers drying seeds onSoil ground Pucca floor Polythene sheet Plastic/cloth TotalRajshahiLarge 61 3 24 12 100Medium 64 5 27 4 100Small 81 0 18 1 100Average 69 3 23 6 100CV (%) 10.6 10.7 16.7 17.1 -DinajpurLarge 64 5 23 8 100Medium 54 2 20 24 100Small 72 3 12 13 100Average 63 3 18 15 100CV (%) 11.4 9.7 12.4 19.1 -RangpurLarge 68 3 16 13 100Medium 58 5 31 6 100Small 69 0 26 5 100Average 65 3 24 8 100CV (%) 9.5 15.1 14.3 22.4 -Average (all sites) 66 3 22 10 1004.2.21 Production function for wheat seed/grainThe estimated production function presented in Table 4.2.20 reveals that the regression coefficients offarm size, rate of urea, number of irrigation, number of human labor and seed classes significantlyinfluenced the grain/seed yield of wheat. The seed rate had negative effect on yield. Besides,application of cowdung, TSP and MP had no significant effect on the grain yield of wheat.The earlier survey results presented in Chapter 4.2.18 showed that most of the farmers do not userecommended doses of fertilizers for wheat grain cultivation. The use of urea was moderately bettercompared to the use of other fertilizers. Even in most cases they do not apply any cow dung or non-ureafertilizers (like TSP, MP, gypsum etc.) in their wheat fields. Moreover, the farmers can not maintain themanure quality. They just keep the organic manure in the heap under open sunny place without havingany rain protection shade. Therefore, most of the nutrients, especially the nitrogen content, are leachedout with rainwater, which deteriorates the quality of the manure. This type of manure generally has63