Crop Protection Usage and Awareness of Improved Seed Varieties Among Vegetable Farmers in Bangladesh

Client

A crop protection client wanted to understand how vegetable farmers in Bangladesh manage pest and disease pressure, which crop protection products they use, and how aware they are of improved seed varieties such as BT Brinjal, commissioning crop protection market research in Bangladesh.

The client needed real field-level data on farmer awareness and attitudes, especially because improved seed adoption could influence future pesticide demand.

Objective of the Study

The primary objective of the study was to map crop protection usage patterns among vegetable farmers and assess awareness of improved seed varieties, including BT Brinjal, through a focused survey of vegetable farmers in Bangladesh.

The study specifically aimed to:

• Understand herbicide, pesticide, and fungicide usage among vegetable farmers

• Assess farmer awareness and understanding of BT Brinjal

• Explore barriers to improved seed adoption

• Identify how farmers make crop protection purchase decisions

• Understand agri-dealer influence at the point of purchase

• Generate insights into how improved seed adoption could affect pesticide usage

Research Methodology

The study combined face-to-face farmer interviews with focus group discussions to capture both usage patterns and farmer attitudes for this vegetable farming market research.

Approach: Quantitative + Qualitative Research

Quantitative Methodology: Face-to-face structured PAPI interviews

Qualitative Methodology: Focus Group Discussions

Sample Size: 150 brinjal farmers + 3 FGDs; 250 crop protection usage interviews

Geographies Covered: Narsingdi, Jessore, Pabna, Rajshahi, Comilla, Rangpur, and Savar, Bangladesh

Target Respondents:

• Farmers cultivating brinjal and other vegetables

• Farmers using herbicides, pesticides, and fungicides

Key Focus Areas:

• Crop protection product usage

• Pesticide, herbicide, and fungicide purchase behaviour

• Awareness of improved seed varieties

• Awareness and perception of BT Brinjal

• Dealer recommendation influence

• Barriers to the adoption of new seed varieties

• Trust and demonstration-led adoption behaviour

Research Outcome

The study found that awareness of BT Brinjal among farmers in the target districts was lower than expected. While many farmers had heard of the variety, only a small proportion could accurately explain what it was or why it had been developed.

The FGDs revealed that the key barrier to agricultural innovation adoption was not only access to information but also trust. Farmers were hesitant to try a variety associated with government programmes unless they had first seen it perform successfully on another farmer’s plot.

The crop protection usage data analysed through pesticide purchase decision analysis, that pesticide application decisions were largely made at the point of purchase. Farmers often described symptoms to agri-dealers and purchased the product recommended to them, with limited prior brand preference.

Business Impact

The findings helped the client understand the commercial importance of agri-dealer relationships and in-store influence in the vegetable crop protection market.

The study also showed that demonstration farming by trusted local farmers would be more effective than top-down communication in encouraging improved seed adoption. These crop protection consumer insights supported the client’s planning around dealer engagement, field demonstrations, farmer education, and brand visibility at the retail level — sharpening the client’s agriculture market intelligence for Bangladesh.

This crop protection and seed-awareness study was conducted by Market Xcel, India's largest integrated market research company. From pesticide usage behaviour to improved-seed awareness and agri-dealer influence, we help crop protection and seed companies see exactly how products move from shelf to field. Contact us to design your next vegetable-farmer study.