Rice varietal adoption in Jafarabad District Baluchistan

Abstract

High yielding rice varieties play an important role in increasing rice productivity. Rice breeders at various research stations in Pakistan are continuously working to evolve and disseminate high yielding varieties (Khichi et al. 1985). The information on the extent of adoption of rice varieties planted by farmers has not been documented and published in Baluchistan. This type of data can be used by policy makers, rice breeders and pathologists to assess the impact of varietal research and to assess the choice of rice varieties by farmers (Sharif et al. 1988). Furthermore, the assessment of rice varieties on farmers' fields and the relative area planted to different rice varieties will also alert rice breeders and planners to potential losses from insects, pests and diseases of the rice crop. The main aim of this study is to present the extent of varietal diffusion and adoption of rice varieties by farm size and tehsil in Jafarabad district of Baluchistan.