Data from a baseline survey conducted in two VDCs of Dolakha and two VDC in Dailekh were used to determine the rate of adoption of soil fertility enhancing technologies and improved varieties. Generally the VDCs of Dailekh had less access to inputs, education and information. All farmers used FYM as a means of improving soil fertility .Though at rates less than recommended, fertilizer N was used by more than 800/% of the farmers except in Chauratha VDC. Less than 1% of the farmers applied fertilizer P. The use of improved varieties (IOPVs) was below 30% exceptin the most accessible VDC where IOPV use was 62%. Adoption of fertilizer was consistently greater than the adoption of IOPVs, even in the most inaccessible areas. This indicates that the lack of adoption of IOPVs was due to the lack of knowledge about the new varieties or demand for them or the lack of availability of seed and not cost per se. Contact between farmers and the formal and informal extension service was very low regardless of VDC. In order to improve adoption rates of IOPVs the effectiveness of institutions involved in extension need to be strengthened and a functional seed system established.

English

0304|AGRIS 0201|AL-Economics Program|R01PROCE

Juan Carlos Mendieta

CIMMYT Staff Publications Collection