Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin - Quarterly Journal of International Agriculture

Quarterly Journal of International Agriculture No. 1/08


Diffusion and adoption of sustainable agricultural practices: study of the male annihilation technique

Zaheeruddin Mirani, Saban Shah Bukhari and Anwar Ahmed Siddiqui
Sindh Agriculture University, Tandojam, Pakistan


Abstract

The cultivation of guava, jujube and mango is very common in Pakistan due to high productivity and economic profit. Therefore, farmers prefer fruit crops but are concerned about insect pests particularly fruit fly attack which is generally controlled by chemical means. Use of pesticide to control fruit fly is not always effective and economical. Technically, maggots (harmful stage of fruit fly i.e. larvae) live inside the fruit and the application of pesticide in the forms of dust and spray destroy them at a very modicum rate because its limitation not to go inside the fruit. In addition, the World Trade Organization (WTO) is in effect and has strongly banned the pesticide used fruits and crops which are to be exported to the WTO member countries. Considering such constraints, NIA (Nuclear Institute of Agriculture) with the collaboration of IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency) has introduced “Male Annihilation Technique” (MAT) to control the fruit fly. MAT is economical, non-polluting, non-hazardous, environment friendly, less laborious technology that fulfills the demands of WTO for exporting agricultural commodities. Despite all these advantages offered by MAT, it has failed to reach at the maximum level of adoption among the growers of Pakistan particularly of Sindh province. Therefore, the researchers studied and identified barriers in the rate of adoption of MAT. The study also identified the information sources that have created trust among farmers resulting into dissemination of MAT at larger scale.

Keywords: Male Annihilation Technique (MAT), agriculture extension, diffusion/adoption

JEL: Q 16, Q 55

Vol. 47 (2008), No. 1: 49-60