Farmers' Adoption of Improved Technological Knowledge on Soybean Production in Northern Shan State Area, Myanmar

Abstract

     The objectives of this research were to study: the socio-economic characteristics of farmers and their knowledge of soybean production; extension activities affecting the adoption of improved soybean production technologies; farmers' problems; and recommended alternative solutions. Of the 25,743 soybean farmers in the Lashio , Hsipaw and Kyaukme townships of Northern Shan State 377 were sampled. Data were collected using an interview schedule and were analyzed using frequency, percentages and arithmetic means. A Chisquare test was employed to test hypotheses at the .05 significance level. The findings revealed that the adoption of improved soybean production technologies was less than 50 percent except for the adoption of improved varieties. Hypothesis testing revealed that adoption was significantly related to: (1) the educational level; (2) family labor; (3) farm income; (4) credit; (5) off-farm employment; (6) farmers' knowledge on soybean production; and (7) extension activities such as home or farm visits, group activities and demonstrations. Major problems of the farmers were: credit, the improved varieties, fertilizers, technical knowledge, and a need for extension activities.