Status of Pulses Varieties Adoption in Bangladesh: a Farm Level Study

The study was conducted in pulse growing areas of Bangladesh during November 2003 to April 2004 for assessing the farm level adoption status of improved pulse varieties with farmers' attitudes toward pulse production. The overall adoption of pulse varieties was very encouraging since 44% of the farmers adopted improved pulses, and 52% of the total pulse area was devoted to its production. The highly adopted varieties were BARI Mash 1, 2 and 3; BARI Lentil 4 and BARI Mung 4 and 5. Indigenous mungbean had completely been replaced by improved varieties in the study areas. The adopters plowed lands and sowed seed according to the recommendation, but could not follow the recommended sowing method and fertilizer doses. The significantly higher probability of adopting improved pulse varieties exists in extension services, influence of family member and encouragement of neighbour. Farmers' attitude toward improved pulse production was very positive since 63% of the adopters wanted to increase their present area for improved pulse production in the next year. On the other side, various agro-socio-economic constraints made many farmers pessimistic toward pulse production. The scarcity of improved pulse seed was identified as a crucial problem for its higher adoption at farm level.