THE GROWTH OF MV RICE PRODUCTION AND ADOPTION IN BANGLADESH

The study develops a model to estimate the growth of both production and adoption of modern rice varieties (MVs) in Bangladesh. Using secondary data on the level of adoption and production of MV rice and employing various statistical tools it was found that, out of three main rice crops (Aus. Aman and Boro). Boro has shown the fastest rate of growth in recent decades. The adoption of existing technologies has almost been exhausted. Furthermore, (a) MV adoption levels in the Aman season were below the centered moving average during the period 1972-94: (b) out of 21 greater districts of Bangladesh 17 had adoption levels below 50 percent in the 1990s and the figures ranged from 20 to 70 percent because the price of rice has gone up at a relatively low rate as compared to price of vegetables, spices and production inputs: (c) access to credit, availability of family labour. supplementary irrigation, soil type and rainfall are factors influencing MV T. Aman adoption levels across all the zones: and (d) cultivation of MV T. Aman is most profitable in the non-flood/nondrought zone as expected from known characteristics of MVs. Specific barriers to MV adoption in T. Aman season are tal varietal degradation due to seed contamination: (6) lack of location specific varieties: lcl lack of insect and disease-resistant varieties; and (d) lowprice of rice compared to other commodities (especially agricultural inputs) which make it difficult for tenant farmers to benefit from growing MV T. Aman rice. The research suggests that (i) location-specific and insect and disease-resistant varieties for T. Aman season need to be developed for the diverse agrqecological rice zones: (ii) the credit facilities be provided considering the amount of land devoted to MV rice than farm size: and (iii) rice farmers are to be motivated to grow BR-28, BR29 in Boro season, replacing the previous Boro varieties.