Journals Information
Natural Resources and Conservation Vol. 1(1), pp. 15 - 20
DOI: 10.13189/nrc.2013.010103
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Adoption of Resource Conserving Technologies by Farmers in the Rice Wheat Systems of Pakistan
Tahseen Jafry1,*, Ashraf Poswal2, Bushra Raza2, Ahmad 2, Gulam Ali2
1 Glasgow Caledonian University, Cowcaddens Road, Glasgow, G4 OBA, United Kingdom
2 CABI Pakistan, Opposite 1-A, Data Gunj Baksh Road, Satellite Town, Rawalpindi-Pakistan
ABSTRACT
The adoption of new resource conserving technologies (RCT) (such as the zero till drill) which impacts on crop yields and/or household budgets is significant to the livelihoods of resource-poor farming families in terms of their food security and income. This study was conducted with farmers from four socio-economic groups, i.e. landless, marginal, subsistence or food surplus/cash cropping in 2 villages in Shekhupura district and 2 villages in Sialkot district of Pakistan to determine their ability to adopt zero till drills as an approach to improving wheat production and thereby increasing their food security status. Participatory semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions were used to collect information. Our findings indicate that it is those farmers who have sufficient land to guarantee household food security throughout the year that can take the necessary risk of adopting new technologies such as the zero till drill. But that this finding was not uniform across all the villages. Many landless and marginal farmers were confused regarding the benefits of using the zero-till drill for wheat production. Farmers who had experienced using the zero-till drill complained of soil compaction, increased pest problems in the following rice crop and lack of back-up support It was recommended that more emphasis is put on disseminating information concerning RCTs at gatherings such as Haweli that involve all farmer groups but especially marginal farmers. These farmers could be organised into Citizen Community Boards so that they can access government funding for agricultural equipment, including zero-till drills which would allow the sharing of equipment especially by the poorest groups.
KEYWORDS
Adoption,Rice-Wheat Systems, Zero-Tillage
Cite This Paper in IEEE or APA Citation Styles
(a). IEEE Format:
[1] Tahseen Jafry , Ashraf Poswal , Bushra Raza , Ahmad , Gulam Ali , "Adoption of Resource Conserving Technologies by Farmers in the Rice Wheat Systems of Pakistan," Natural Resources and Conservation, Vol. 1, No. 1, pp. 15 - 20, 2013. DOI: 10.13189/nrc.2013.010103.
(b). APA Format:
Tahseen Jafry , Ashraf Poswal , Bushra Raza , Ahmad , Gulam Ali (2013). Adoption of Resource Conserving Technologies by Farmers in the Rice Wheat Systems of Pakistan. Natural Resources and Conservation, 1(1), 15 - 20. DOI: 10.13189/nrc.2013.010103.