Risks affecting hybrid rice yield in Bangladesh: two-tier approach of appraisal and management

Purpose: Bangladesh faces a growing food demand from a growing population under the continuous shrinking of arable land. Most Bangladeshi farmers produce inbred rice. Hybrid rice has been shown, in China, to be far more productive per hectare. Bangladesh cannot feed itself long-term without ample produce of hybrid rice. Yet, fewer Bangladeshi farmers are growing hybrid rice at present; they perceive hybrid rice cultivation as too risky. The present study was conducted to define the yield risks of hybrid rice and develop management strategies to allow hybrid rice to contribute more to food production.

Research Method: Both quantitative and qualitative methods were used to evaluate the risks of hybrid rice production from the farmers’ perspective and the experts’. Three hundred fifty-four randomly-sampled hybrid rice farmers were interviewed with key informants, focus group discussions, experts’ opinion surveys, and workshops. A fuzzy triangular scale was used in calculating the yield risks of hybrid rice production.

Findings: From the results, unexpected yield performance, germination failure, unavailability of seed in sowing seasons, and crop failure due to pest infestation were identified as the critical yield risks. A regression model determined that education, family income, innovativeness, hybrid rice cultivation experience, and rice selling in public procurement are lower yield risks in growing hybrid rice. Therefore, educated farmers from high-income families, innovative farmers, experienced farmers, and farmers who sell rice in public procurement face lower yield risk in hybrid rice production.

Originality/value: This study mainly identified the critical risk and management strategies for hybrid rice production in Bangladesh. The policy advises encouraging hybrid rice cultivation by reducing yield risk, which is also offered.