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CONSTRAINTS TO ADOPTION OF IMPROVED TECHNOLOGY FOR BERSEEM CLOVER (TRIFOLIUM ALEXANDRINUM) CULTIVATION IN PUNJAB, PAKISTAN

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 November 2017

M. S. TUFAIL*
Affiliation:
Graham Centre for Agricultural Innovation, Charles Sturt University Wagga Wagga, Wagga Wagga, NSW, 2650, Australia New South Wales Department of Primary Industries Wagga Wagga, Wagga Wagga, 2650, Australia
S. NIELSEN
Affiliation:
Quantitative Consulting Unit, Research Office, Charles Sturt University Wagga Wagga, Wagga Wagga, NSW, 2678, Australia
A. SOUTHWELL
Affiliation:
Graham Centre for Agricultural Innovation, Charles Sturt University Wagga Wagga, Wagga Wagga, NSW, 2650, Australia
G. L. KREBS
Affiliation:
Graham Centre for Agricultural Innovation, Charles Sturt University Wagga Wagga, Wagga Wagga, NSW, 2650, Australia
J. W. PILTZ
Affiliation:
Graham Centre for Agricultural Innovation, Charles Sturt University Wagga Wagga, Wagga Wagga, NSW, 2650, Australia New South Wales Department of Primary Industries Wagga Wagga, Wagga Wagga, 2650, Australia
M. R. NORTON
Affiliation:
Graham Centre for Agricultural Innovation, Charles Sturt University Wagga Wagga, Wagga Wagga, NSW, 2650, Australia New South Wales Department of Primary Industries Wagga Wagga, Wagga Wagga, 2650, Australia
P. C. WYNN
Affiliation:
Graham Centre for Agricultural Innovation, Charles Sturt University Wagga Wagga, Wagga Wagga, NSW, 2650, Australia
*
§Corresponding author. Email: shabi14L@yahoo.com

Summary

Berseem clover (Trifolium alexandrinum L.) is an important forage legume and is the primary winter forage crop in Pakistan. There are significant gaps in yield potential among varieties of berseem clover, as well as yields obtained at research stations and on-farm. To address this problem a survey of farmers was undertaken in the districts of Kasur and Okara, Punjab, Pakistan to determine the level of knowledge and understanding of berseem forage cultivation and seed production. The study comprised 44% smallholder (<3 ha), 26% medium (3–5 ha) and 30% large farmers (>5 ha) with average age of 42 years. Most farmers had little or no knowledge of the role of seed quality, inoculation with rhizobium, pollination, fertiliser use, irrigation management and the importance of forage nutritional value in improving livestock productivity. Most farmers (56%) had received no input from the government or private sector to improve forage production, relying instead on traditional knowledge. Knowledge of the importance of land preparation (95%), sowing rate (98%) and insect and pest management (75%) was higher than seed selection and fertilisation. Adoption of improved varieties (3%) and production technologies (14%) was low due to various constraints including ignorance, high cost of inputs, lack of availability of inputs in the market and a perceived high level of financial risk. Almost 100% of the respondents agreed that seed of improved varieties was a pre-requisite for higher forage and seed production as well as essential to start village-based forage seed enterprises.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2017 

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