Mlaaerg.al reolrements. Managerial changes associated with the adoption of Existing Technology I (EMVs) by farmers has already taken
adoption of this technology would be minimal, as farmers are already place. Existing Technologies 2 and 3 have been developed and tested,
familiar with transplanting techniques. The changes that would have to but adoption by farmers is not yet widespread. In this section, four
occur involve reducing the amount of land planted to the first rice crop notional new technologies will be briefly described and evaluated In the
in order to provide space for growing a seedbed, increasing the seedling context of Iloilo rainfed farming systems. Each of the notional
transplanting age in order to reduce the amount of time the crop Is in technologies is designed to enhance farm productivity, either by
the field, and increasing the density of transplanted seedlings, improving the utilization of currently available resources (especially
land during the wet season) or by contributing to the alleviation of
Atroclimatie requirements. As demonstrated in Figure 8, some of the problems plaguing unacceptable existing technologies.
transplanting the second rice crop enables the two-crop sequence to fit
mostly within the time period alotted for rice production. The major Notional Technology I Very early maturing varieties (VEVs)
difference from previous recommendations for transplanted rice concerns
the age of the seedlings upon transplanting. Experimental trials As mentioned previously, early maturing varieties do not provide
undertaken at IRRI in 1978 evaluated yield and growth duration effects the opportunity for double rice cropping under rainfed conditions
of old seedlings. Average grain yields were significantly reduced when without entailing a substantial risk of yield reduction due to drought
old seedlings were used when the transplanting intensity was three stress of the second rice crop (Figure 5). One potential means of
seedlings per hill. However, the use of an increased number of allowing double rice cropping under less risky conditions would be to
seedlings per hill was found to increase the yield of plots planted with develop varieties with an even shorter maturation period (Figure 9).
40-day-old seedlings to levels similar to those planted with 18-day-old
seedlings (IRRI, 1978; Table 31). Resource utilization. By enabling the planting and harvesting of
two rice crops per season, VEVs would require increased amounts of labor
Accep.taility _oIarM&_U. Farmers in Iloilo have demonstrated a and capital inputs than are currently employed under single crop progeneral reluctance to allocate land to seedbeds and to forego the more duction systems. Land would become roughly twice as productive as it
certain first rice crop for what they consider to be a less certain currently is in areas where multiple rice crop potential is low using
outcome for a second rice crop. Furthermore, farmers have been well existing EMVs.
versed on the necessity of transplanting EH' seedlings early (18-20 days
after seeding). They therefore expect inferior yields using the older 9-n~rbution lo household obeetives. VEVs would contribute an
seedlings that form the basis of this new technology. increased supply of rice earlier in the season than late maturing
varieties. Initial adopters of such varieties would likely obtain
In Iloilo, there is not an overabundance of landless people higher prices for their output due to the early harvest, thusgenerating
offering their services as temporary agricultural laborers. In fact, greater farm incomes. Total rice production per unit of land would
many farmers with small holdings forego productive opportunities on increase, resulting in an increased overall family food supply. Nutheir own farms in order to work as harvesters in neighboring larger tritional levels may decline, however, if double rice cropping implies a
farms. Moreover, it is unlikely that farmers in the area would be reduction in the production of other food crops.
willing to increase transplanting wages sufficiently to attract labor
that would ordinarily be used in harvesting. Institutional reoulrements. No new inputs, other than seed (which
farmers can produce themselves after the first year), would be required
In evaluating this technology according to the criteria for for VEVs. Levels of common capital inputs would need to be increased in
appropriateness presented at the beginning of this paper, we find that a manner compatible with the growing of two crops of rice in a season
transplanting the second rice crop can improve the productivity of land instead of one. Marketing problems may arise, especially for the second
(by increasing expected yield) and can reduce the effects of uncertainty crop, due to a lack of adequate capacity of governmental storage
on the farming system (by reducing the risk of yield loss due to drought facilities.
stress). However, it is not compatible with the level or labor and
capital farmers are willing and able to reallocate. nagerial requirements. The managerial requirements for VEVs
would be similar to those for varieties currently used by Iloilo
farmers. Timing of crop activities will become increasingly important
EVALUATION OF UOD.A1. T OJLOGIE if two rice crops are to be planted and harvested before the end of the
wet season. This implies that labor must be available for timely land
The previously evaluated technologies can be considered relatively preparation, planting and harvesting of each crop.
developed in the sense that z least preliminary field testing and
evaluation has occurred. As demonstrated previously, a large scale
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