Determinants of Adoption of Improved Onion Variety in Bangladesh

Abstract

Through exploring data collected from 300 Bangladeshi onion growers this article suggests options for widespread adoption of modern onion varieties. Cultivation of modern variety enables farmers to produce more and earn higher profit than the traditional variety growing farmers, though farmers requires more capital for cultivating modern variety. Quality of extension service and access to credit are two of the most important factors to contribute in adoption. Farmers practicing crop diversification are more likely to adopt, but when they adopt they devote relatively lower share of their available land for modern onion varieties since they are characterized to cultivate different crops. With increasing off-farm income farmers tend to adopt less. Level of adoption is likely to be higher among the experienced and educated farmers. Number of fragmented land reduces adoption probabilities.