Determinants of Improved Wheat Varieties’ Adoption in Punjab, Pakistan

Abstract

Pakistani farmers are reluctant to quickly adopt improved wheat varieties that are inevitable for increasing wheat yield. Majority use the previous year’s farm produce as seeds to save the seed cost but incur opportunity cost in terms potential yield loss. Objective is to estimate the adoption and impact of improved high yielding wheat varieties on rural households’ income food security and poverty levels in Punjab, Pakistan. The determinants of adoption and impact evaluation of IWV (Improved Wheat Varieties) can be assessed using Propensity Score Matching (PSM). The empirical results revealed that there were several constraints to adoption related to human capital, village assets, household assets, infrastructure and institutional support. Most important out of this long list were education, experience, land holding, wheat area sown, land rent, soil quality, land fragmentation, slop, use of laser leveler, agricultural extension services, metal road, availability of credit facility, variety rust resistant, irrigation cost,  ZT Drill, seed rate,  seed drill, highest education, female farm worker, male farm worker, family members,  and location  at distributary. Lack of knowledge, education, institutional support, agricultural extension services, as well as household assets drives the adoption of improved wheat varieties.