DIFFUSION AND ADOPTION STATUS OF MARKAZ-09 LENTIL VARIETY IN POTHWAR REGION, PAKISTAN

Pulses program NARC has developed and disseminated lentil variety Markaz-09 which is the highest yielding variety in the country but diffusion and adoption status of the variety is yet unknown. The present study was undertaken among 70 lentil farmers from pulses farming districts Attock, Chakwal, Jehlum and Rawalpindi in 2013. The aim of the study was to find out the diffusion and adoption status, as well as to study constraints in adoption of the variety. The adoption behavior was studied by using the probit analysis technique. The analysis revealed that among 70 respondents only 44 percent respondents were adopters of the variety which indicated that adoption status of the variety was at initial stage with slow adoption rate. According to probit analysis estimates the determinants of adoption were yield of Markaz-09, access to extension services and distance from input shop while in case of factors contributing towards non-adoption of the variety were experience of the respondents, education, total operational holding, area under wheat, access to credit and extent of weeds for Markaz-09variety of lentil in the study area.