TECHNICAL CONCEPTION OF FARMERS TO ECONOMIC POSSIBILITY OF EXPANDING OILSEED RAPE CULTIVATION IN NORTH-EAST OF IRAN

Winter rapeseed is relatively new introduced crop that is in competition with winter cereals especially irrigated wheat in North-east of Iran. Farmers must to decide which of them is more economic and profitable for cultivation. Local farmers have a good technical cognition about wheat cultivation historically, so this crop has more chance for selecting in their cropping system compared to rapeseed. Besides, lack of technical recognition about rapeseed cultivation and management is led to lower seed yield compared to wheat. This research was conducted for determining the competitiveness capability of rapeseed and its some technical and economical aspects in that region. Results showed, almost the half of statistical community of farmers were satisfied for rapeseed cultivation. They were who had been achieved more than 1800 Kg.ha-1, seed yield. For increasing rapeseed economic yield in farmer’s fields, it needs to promote their technical knowledge about crop management too. Relative to this fact, 66.7% of farmers believed, rapeseed in cropping system could be reduce weeds and increase the yield of subsequent crop. 70% of farmers believed that oilseed rape- cereals rotation can increase the wheat seed yield after rapeseed. Eless of these beliefs, still 48% of farmers has a weak conception to expanding oilseed rape cultivation areas.