Challenges in the introduction of new technologies: a study of the performance and adoption of hybrid rice in India

Abstract

Rice is the most important food staple of India and increasing its production in the context of rising food demand and escalating food prices is a major challenge in India. Breakthroughs are urgently required. A major breakthrough in this context is the hybrid rice technology, which despite significant success in countries such as China and Vietnam, has faced serious difficulties in its introduction in India. An examination of the existing literature indicates that studies on hybrid rice adoption are generally partial in nature, taking account of only a few factors, and generally lack a conceptual base. This present study seeks to fill this gap through a relatively comprehensive and systematic examination of the introduction of new agricultural technologies with a focus on hybrid rice. Based on extensive literature survey, a comprehensive conceptual framework is developed which includes almost all the factors which may influence the adoption of technologies in agriculture. This includes factors grouped under concepts of agronomic potential, agro-economic potential, effective demand, supply and distribution. The data is collected through primary sample survey of over 440 farmers in Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Gujarat. The analysis shows that agronomic potential, agro-economic potential, demand creation and distribution are significantly related to hybrid rice adoption. Hybrid rice shows a statistically significant yield advantage over open pollinated varieties (OPVs) of rice. Interestingly, the advantage is found to be relatively more under unsuitable land and low input conditions. In many areas, hybrid rice seems to fetch a lower price on account of poor grain quality. As a result, the yield advantage is not fully converted to profitability. However, the yield advantage enables small and marginal farmers to achieve food security for their households. Effective demand creation, supply and distribution of hybrid rice seeds seem broadly satisfactory. Thus, hybrid rice appears to be facing limitations in India mainly due to its poor agro-economic potential. Results also indicate that the extent of hybrid rice adoption is more for farmers who are educated, experienced, have smaller farm sizes and lesser percentage of their farm under irrigation.The findings of this study helps in identifying the critical problems as well as the potential regions and farmers for adoption of hybrid rice. Findings also suggest that hybrid rice can be instrumental in enhancing food security and reducing the headcount ratio of calorie deficiency. This study contributes to the literature in terms of a comprehensive framework to understand the adoption of new technologies in Indian agriculture such as hybrid rice. It also provides a better understanding to scientists, policy makers and corporates, of the adoption behavior of agricultural technologies and identification of critical issues behind low adoption of the promising hybrid rice technology in India.