Research on World Agricultural Economy

Factors Affecting Conservation Agriculture Technologies at Farm Level in Bangladesh

M. A. Monayem Miah

Agricultural Economics Division, Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute (BARI), Joydebpur, Gazipur, Bangladesh

M. Enamul Haque

Murdoch University, Australia

Richard W. Bell

Murdoch University, Australia

M. A. Rouf Sarkar

Agricultural Economics Division, Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRRI), Joydebpur, Gazipur, Bangladesh

M. Abdur Rashid

Agricultural Economics Division, Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute (BARI), Joydebpur, Gazipur, Bangladesh

DOI: https://doi.org/10.36956/rwae.v1i1.263

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Abstract

Conservation agriculture (CA) is a win-win approach that reduces operational costs, including machinery, labour, and fuel, while increasing yields, profit and better utilization of natural resources. Data and information on farm level CA technology adoption are scarce in Bangladesh.Therefore, the study was conducted at three Upazilas of Rajshahi and Thakurgaon districts to assess adoption and farmers perceptions on CA technology, and to determine the factors of CA technology adoption at farm level in 2017. A total of 405 farmers taking 135 adopters and 270 non-adopters were selected randomly for this study. The study revealed that CA technology adoption is still going on in the study areas. However,the rates of adoptions of crop residue retention (67%) and crop rotations (38.9%) were much higher compared to minimum tillage (14.9%). Residue retention (68.9%) and suitable crop rotations (34.4%) were also practiced by the non-adopters. The age, innovativeness, and extension contact of the farmers and availability of VMP had significant positive influence on the adoption of CA technologies. The major problems of adoption were non-availability of minimum tillage planter, lack of knowledge and awareness of the farmer, and no/little subsidy provision on planter.Increasing the availability of VMP, providing training on CA methods,and providing subsidy on planter are important to increase CA technology adoption at farm level.

Keywords: Conservation tillage; VMP; Residue retention; Crop rotations; Conservation agriculture

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