Adoption of BARI Recommended Potato (Solanum tuberosum) Varieties by the Potato Farmers of Bangladesh
The Agriculturists 11(2): 79-86 (2013)
ISSN 2304-7321 (Online), ISSN 1729-5211 (Print)
A Scientific Journal of Krishi Foundation
Indexed Journal
Adoption of BARI Recommended Potato (Solanum tuberosum) Varieties by the
Potato Farmers of Bangladesh
M. I. Khalil1, M. E. Haque2 and M. Z. Hoque2 *
1
Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation (BADC); 2 Department of Agricultural Extension
and Rural Development, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Agricultural University, Bangladesh
*Corresponding author and Email:
Received: 27 September 2012
Accepted: 06 December 2013
Abstract
This study was conducted to determine the extent of adoption of BARI recommended potato varieties
by the potato growers in three Upazilas namely, Pirgachha of Rangpur, Munsiganj sadar of Munsiganj
and Shibganj of Bogra district of Bangladesh. To achieve the objectives, the present research was
designed to collect both qualitative and quantitative data. The study areas were selected purposively
considering highly concentrated potato growing areas. Total numbers of potato growers in the selected
areas were 581 from which 231 were selected as respondents following proportionate random
sampling technique. A pre-tested interview schedule was used to collect data from the respondents
during October, 2010 to February, 2011. The potato growers showed marked individual differences in
their socio-economic characteristics and majority of them belonged to middle age category having
small family size, primary level of education, small farm size, medium innovativeness and medium
contact with extension personnel. The study revealed that the highest proportion (68.4%) of the potato
farmers belonged to high adoption category; whereas 6.5 percent fall in medium adoption category and
25.1 percent in low adoption category of BARI recommended potato varieties. Extent of adoption of
BARI recommended potato varieties were found more or less equal in three different study areas,
where the highest (72.6%) portion of the potato farmers were in high adoption category in Munshiganj
Sadar followed by 68.4 percent in Shibganj and 67.5 percent in Pirgachha. The studies also revealed
that Diamant, Cardinal and Granola were the most popular varieties among all the released varieties of
BARI and are largely grown in Munshiganj, Rangpur and Bogra, respectively. Farmers’ education and
knowledge about potato cultivation technology showed significant positive relationship with their
adoption of BARI recommended potato varieties.
Keywords: Adoption, potato variety, BARI
1. Introduction
Potato (Solanum tuberosum) is the third largest
food crop in Bangladesh and has recently
occupied an important place in the list of major
food and cash crops of Bangladesh (Ali and
Haque, 2011). The area and production of potato
in Bangladesh during 2009-2010 were 0.47
million hectares and 8.40 million MT,
respectively. It is grown more or less in all the
districts of Bangladesh But, better produced in
the districts of Munsiganj, Bogra, Rangpur,
Dinajpur and some parts of greater Comilla. The
highest area concentration of potato was in
Bogra (48700 hectares) in 2008-2009. This was
followed by Rangpur (41200 hectares), Dinaipur
80
(36955 hectares) and Munshiganj (32850
hectares) during the same year (BBS, 2009). Per
hectare yield of potato remained static at around
12.92 MT up to 2000-2001. However, the
increased yields of 17.80 MT per hectare during
2009-2010 were mainly due to use of quality
seeds of modern varieties and appropriate
production technologies (DAE, 2010).
There are about 27 local varieties of potatoes
cultivated in different parts of the country. They
have familiar local names. It is estimated that
local varieties were cultivated in about 1,13,540
acres of land, producing 3,09,800 m tons of
tubers during 1997-98. Some of the popular local
varieties are: (a) Sheel Bilatee- mostly cultivated
in Rangpur. The tuber is oblong, reddish. Each
tuber weighs about 30 g; (b) Lal Sheel- primarily
cultivated in Bogra with round tubers reddish in
color and each having a weight of about 55 g.
This variety is also known as Lal Madda and
Bograi; (c) Lal Pakri - cultivated widely in
Dinajpur, Bogra and Sirajganj districts with
reddish and round tubers, each weighing about
30 g; (d) Du Hajari - mostly cultivated in
Chittagong area. Tubers appear round and pale,
each weighing about 25 g. Among other
indigenous varieties Jhau Bilatee and
Suryamukhi are notable. In the last few decades,
several dozens of high yielding varieties (HYV)
of potato were brought to Bangladesh and tried
experimentally under local conditions before
they were recommended for general cultivation.
During the 1970s, about 16 varieties were
initially selected, but subsequently 10 were
dropped. Through constant evaluation of the
traits, varietal performance, and considerations
of other characteristics, about 10 HYV have been
released for cultivation in the country. However,
huge amount of potato seeds are imported every
year
by
the
Bangladesh
Agricultural
Development
Corporation
(BADC)
for
distribution among farmers.
Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute
(BARI) has also established a farm at Debiganj
in Panchagar district for production of HYV seed
potatoes. Among the high yielding popular
Khalil et al. /The Agriculturists 11(2): 79-86 (2013)
varieties, some notable varieties are: (a)
Cardinal- probably most popular among the
foreign varieties with oblong and reddish tubers,
shallow eyes, and smooth skin. The variety has
been introduced from Holland and has yield
potential of 20-25 m tons per ha; (b) Diamant another Holland- variety with oval to oblong
shape, pale yellow tubers, smooth skin, and
shallow eyes. It is quite disease resistant. Per
hectare yield ranges from 18-24 m tons; (c) Kufri
Shindhury - tubers are reddish and round, and
eyes are deep with rough skin. This variety was
introduced from India and is comparatively less
susceptible to pests and diseases. It has a yield
potential of 18 to 22 m tons per ha. Other notable
exotic varieties are Patronis, Alpha, Archa,
Multa, Ukama, Hira, Maurin, Origo, Alisa, etc.
In recent years, the Tuber Crops Research Centre
of BARI has collected many new varieties of
potato from the International Potato Research
Centre, Peru and from other sources. These are
being tested under Bangladesh field conditions to
determine whether they can be recommended for
commercial cultivation in the country. The
Centre has already made good contribution
towards the development of some high yielding
potato varieties (Anonymous, 2006).
Usually, farmers follow a different level of
production technologies depending upon their
infrastructural facilities and socio- economic
conditions which ultimately result variability in
yields of potato (Elias et al., 1992). The proper
management is fully dependent upon ability of
the manager, his attitude, knowledge, skill and
resource (Hussain and Islam, 1986). Farmers’
production performance depends on physical
reso (...truncated)
