Albanian j. agric. sci. ISSN: 2218-2020, (2012), Nr. 4/Vol. 11 © Agricultural University of Tirana 211 HYBRID OR OPEN POLLINATED MAIZE VARIETIES? A SOCIO- ECONOMIC ASSESSMENT OF NEPALESE FARMERS’ EXPERIENCES BINOD KAFLE 1 AND PRADEEP SHAH 2 1 Scientist, Nepal Agricultural Research Council (NARC) Outreach Research Division (ORD), Khumaltar, Lalitpur, Nepal PO Box: 3605, Kathmandu Tel: +977-1-5540817, +977-9845054547 2 Scientist, Nepal Agricultural Research Council (NARC) Regional Agricultural Research Station, Parwanipur, Bara, Nepal * Author of correspondence; Email: kafle44@yahoo.com Abstract: Analysis of factors affecting adoption of hybrid and open pollinated maize varieties had not been taken yet in Nepal. Viewing this fact, this study was undertaken consisting of four purposively selected VDCs from two central Terai districts, Bara and Sarlahi, of Nepal. A total of 110 maize growers including 86 adopters and 24 non adopters of hybrid maize varieties (adopters of open pollinated maize varieties) were interviewed with the help of structured questionnaire. Results of t-test showed that adopters of hybrid maize varieties had significantly larger farm size and, size of maize farm, were more experienced on maize farming, and used significantly higher amount of chemical fertilizers but lower amount of organic manures than the non-adopters. Further, more adopters used irrigation water, pesticides and hired labor than the non-adopters. The result showed that a substantial proportion of land area grown to maize was cultivated to hybrid maize varieties with an adoption rate of 81.9 % while the adoption rate for open pollinated varieties was estimated as 18.1%. The results of the binary logistic regression analysis showed that adoption of hybrid maize was positively influenced by farm size, irrigation availability, farmer’s attitude towards insect and disease tolerance characteristics of hybrid maize, male headed family and credit availability in the surveyed area. However, farming experience on maize was negatively associated with the adoption of hybrid maize varieties. Keywords: hybrid, open pollinated varieties, adoption, regression 1. Introduction Maize is the second most important cereal crop after rice in terms of area and production and first staple food crop for the hills in Nepal. It is grown in 875660 hectare of land with average yield of 2.11 t/ha. The proportion of maize area consists of 70.23% in hills followed by 19.23% in Terai and 10.45% in Mountain [1]. Almost all quantity of the maize produced in the mid and high hills is utilized for human consumption and a very little portion is fed to animals. However, more than 80% Terai production is being utilized for poultry and animal feeds and remaining amount is used as industrial and human consumption [2]. This indicates that maize is emerging as a cash crop in Terai regions. National Maize Research Programme (NMRP) under Nepal Agricultural Research Programme (NARC) has released 23 maize varieties, including 1 hybrid, over the last two decades. The potential productivity of these varieties, except Arun-2, ranges between 3 to 10.6 mt/ha [3]. Gaurav, the only one hybrid maize released in Nepal in 2003, could not be popularized in hybrid maize growing areas because of the difficulty in its seed production particularly in private sector. This situation has left no varietal options for growing hybrid maize in Nepal and farmers have to rely on seeds of multi-national hybrid companies based mostly in India. Realizing this situation, NMRP Rampur is making its effort towards production of hybrid maize seed along with open pollinated maize varieties and Rampur Hybrid-2 is in releasing process. Literature shows that hybrid maize was introduced in Nepal long ago. About three decades back, most farmers used to grow open pollinated varieties, though a few farmers in the south used to grow Indian hybrids [4]. The rate of adoption of