ADOPTION STATUS AND LIVELIHOOD IMPACT OF IMPROVED LENTIL VARIETIES IN SELECTED DISTRICTS OF BANGLADESH

Abstract

This study aimed at exploring the adoption status of improved lentil varieties and their impacts on the livelihood of farmers in Magura and Faridpur district of Bangladesh. To attain the objectives of this study, primary data were collected from 130 lentil farmers through farm level survey using a suitable pre-tested questionnaire in March-April, 2022. Descriptive statistics and livelihood assessment index were constructed to find out the results. Majority (91%) of the lentil farmers adopted improved lentil varieties due to the availability of improved seeds and higher yields. Around 77.06% of lentil farmers adopted BARI improved lentil varieties and 13.08% of lentil farmers used BINA improved lentil varieties. Besides, around 9% lentil farmers still used the local variety. The profitability analysis demonstrates that the net return from BARI improved lentil varieties and BINA improved lentil varieties were Tk. 67485 and Tk. 48764 respectively. On the other hand, the net return from local variety was Tk. 14305.84 which was comparatively low than improved lentil varieties. The results show the benefit cost ratio for BARI improved lentil varieties was 1.78 which indicates the economic sustainability. Besides, the BCR of BINA improved varieties and local variety were 1.61 and 1.20 respectively. So, the results revealed that adopting improved lentil varieties was profitable and significant in the study area. Livelihood assessment index was high among the adopter of improved lentil varieties which indicated that livelihood status was better among the adopter group compared to non-adopter of improved lentil varieties. During lentil cultivation, lentil farmers faces some constraints such as disease of lentil, high cost of pesticides, lack of marketing facilities etc. To increase the rate of adoption, some strategies must be implemented, such as the availability of quality medicine for lentil disease at a reasonable price, skill development, access to technology, credit facilities etc.