Spatial and temporal diversity in adoption of modern wheat varieties in India

Abstract

In this study, adoption rates of modern wheat varieties in India have been estimated using expert elicitation methodology. The study has found that the wheat varietal output has increased during the period 2010–2015. The most widely cultivated wheat varieties in the study states are HD 2967, PBW 343, PBW 550, Lok 1 and PBW 502. The temporal and spatial diversity indices have been calculated based on the perceived adoption rates. Wheat varietal turnover has been highest in Punjab (7.50 years) and lowest in Rajasthan (19.25 years). The Berger Parker index has shown that relative abundance of varieties was lowest in Punjab (1.76) and highest in Madhya Pradesh (7.10). The concentration of wheat area under dominant varieties was highest in Punjab and lowest in Rajasthan as indicated by the Marglef index. The cultivation of older varieties and dominance of a few varieties deprive the farmers of the advantages of productivity gains, genetic improvement, in addition to increasing crop vulnerability to pests and diseases. The study has concluded that besides varietal development, it is also important to focus on reducing the socioeconomic and institutional barriers to adoption of improved crop varieties. In this direction, it is important to create an enabling institutional environment for increasing the rate of varietal replacement, promote spatial heterogeneity in crop varieties cultivated, identify and effectively bring the potential varieties under the seed chain system and enhance the outreach of improved wheat varieties with an inclusive approach to reach even the resource-poor farmers.