Empirical Studies On The Extension Of New Technology In Quality Rice

Title of the thesis: Empirical Studies on the Extension of New Technology in Quality Rice — A case study from Fengshan town, Bobai County, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region; Author: Zhou Hang; Supervisor: Prof. Zhou Sheng-kun; Specialty: Crop Production; Field of research: Rural Development; College: College of Humanities and Development; Application Date: September, 2005.Using qualitative and quantitative methods, the thesis analyzes adoption processes of quality rice varieties in Longcheng and Wuwei villages, Fengshan town, Bobai county, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, over the period of 2000-2004. The thesis research also examines major factors affecting local farmer's adoption of the quality rice varieties and makes recommendations with regard to promoting local farmers' adoption of agricultural technologies.The research made the following findings. First, when farmers adopt agricultural technologies, the first thing they consider is whether the technologies can increase their incomes, and then yield; Second, conditions of farmers including wealth, age, education and amount of land and number of household members will have large impacts on adoption of technologies; Third, the risks farmers consider when adopting new technologies include fake products of seeds, pesticides and chemical fertilizers, price fluctuations in the market, climate disasters, crop pests and diseases. Agricultural technology extension agencies should therefore consider and try to meet farmers' needs; Fourth, government run agricultural extension agencies are still the main source of information for farmers to access to new technologies; Fifth, the small holding of land does not favor technologies adoption. It is therefore suggested that the land of small holding farmers should concentrate to the farmers so that they can exercise management of their land in appropriate scales with higher profits.The research makes the following policy recommendations. 1) the promoting of rice technologies should be based on the principle of good benefits; 2) Pay attention to applied research to ensure more adoption of research results; 3) strengthen agricultural technologies extension systems for providing better services; 4) promote the role of farmers groups and associations for more adoptions; 5) pay attention to heterogeneity of rural communities when promoting technology extension.