Adoption/diffusion processes, persistence and socio-economic impact of new peanut varieties

The average peanut farmer was male, 43 years old, married, had 19 years of farming experience and had been planting peanut for 13 years. The farmer had an average farm size of 1.67 ha, of which 50.3% was planted to peanut during the dry season, with the rest devoted to corn production. Seed loans were mostly BPI Pn 9 since the DA had a bigger supply of the variety compared to UPL Pn 10. Most beneficiaries, therefore, planted BPI Pn 9. In non-commercialization areas, the native variety was commonly planted but some of the farmers planted one of the two improved varieties. Farmers who planted BPI Pn 9 obtained better yields than those who planted UPL Pn 10 and native varieties. However, the three consecutive floods which hit the region in the recent years could have affected peanut yield as noted in the low productivity in 1998-99 compared to 1994-95. In terms of net farm income, both croppings showed that planting BPI Pn 9 earned more than UPL Pn 10 and native variety. Farmers in commercialization areas had better income from peanut than their counterparts in the non-commercialization areas. Logit analysis showed that the farmers' decision to adopt UPL and BPI varieties was highly influenced by the number of years in peanut farming. The adoption of UPL, in particular, could be influenced by the farmer's years of schooling and contact with extension workers. Earnings from peanut was just one of the sources of income for the family. In 1998, it contributed 20% to total family income. About 50% came from earnings from other crops and livestock. Off farm income contributed 14%. Pests and diseases, floods and drought, and marketing of produce were among the problems encountered by the peanut farmers. Farmers purchased farm supplies from traders whom they paid after harvest. These traders were peanut farmers too and could dictate the price of peanut. To improve peanut farming, farmers suggested the provision of more trainings by the DA [Department of Agriculture] and the LGUs [local government units] and by making seeds of improved varieties available to farmers. Availability of seeds was the primary determining factor in planting a particular variety