Farmer’s wheat varietal knowledge and varieties grown in Balochistan

Agriculture is the single largest sector and dominant driving force for growth and development of the national economy.  Wheat is the most preferred rabi crop among the farming communities of Balochistan as an important source of food both for humans and livestock. The continuous increase in human population needs and the gap between supply and demand of agricultural produce is widening.  Agricultural Research Institute has released four wheat varieties since it began operations. The information on adoption spread of new wheat varieties planted by the farmers’ has not been gathered. This study examined factors that influence farmers’ adoption of new varieties in the Nasirabad, Jaffarabad and Kalat Districts that account for 52% of Balochistan’s domestic wheat production.  The study found that most of the farmers in these Districts neither knew nor grew new wheat varieties, reflecting lack of seed and knowledge of these new varieties.