Adoption of Seed Management Practices and Its Impact on Wheat Productivity: Evidence from Punjab, Pakistan

Abstract

Seed management practices—referred to as seed treatment, storage, and timely replacement—are critical for improving crop quality, enhancing wheat productivity, and ensuring food security. Despite initiatives started by public and private institutions in Pakistan to promote these practices, their adoption among wheat farmers is often limited. This study investigated the adoption of seed management practices in Punjab province and their impact on wheat productivity. Wheat farmers were approached for data collection in Sheikhupura district using a structured questionnaire and convenience sampling method. Descriptive analysis was carried out with the help of SPSS 26, while relationships between variables were assessed using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM). The results of the analysis indicated that the adoption of seed management practices was significantly affected by technical attributes, institutional support, financial constraints, and access to information. In contrast, marketing factors did not exhibit a significant impact. Additionally, it was discovered that the adoption of these practices had a statistically significant and positive effect on wheat productivity. The study highlights the need for targeted interventions such as improved farmer training, enhanced access to certified seeds, and investment in storage infrastructure to strengthen seed systems and promote adoption. These findings provide crucial empirical evidence that can guide policymakers and agricultural stakeholders in designing effective strategies for sustainable wheat production and rural development. This study provides localized evidence on wheat seed management practices in Punjab. It contributes by analysing technical, institutional, financial, and informational factors of adoption. Practical value lies in highlighting farmer training, certified seed access, and storage improvement. The findings offer policy insights for sustainable wheat productivity and rural development.

References

Ahmed, D., Hu, X. H., Goldstein, M. A., & Xie, Y. (2025). Risk aversion during adverse economic events. Research in International Business and Finance, 78, 103006. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ribaf.2025.103006

Asif, M., Xuhui, W., Nasiri, A., & Ayyub, S. (2018). Determinant factors influencing organic food purchase intention and the moderating role of awareness: A comparative analysis. Food Quality and Preference, 63, 144–150. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodqual.2017.08.006

Ayesha, M. S., Suryanarayanan, T. S., Nataraja, K. N., Prasad, S. R., & Shaanker, R. U. (2021). Seed treatment with systemic fungicides: Time for review. Frontiers in Plant Science, 12, 654512. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2021.654512

Bilal, M., Barkmann, J., & Baloch, M. A. (2015). Barriers to the adoption of multiple agricultural innovations: Insights from Bt cotton, wheat seeds, herbicides, and no-tillage in Pakistan. Agricultural Systems, 132, 1–12.

Dias, F. L., Assumpção, M., Peixoto, P. S., Bianchi, M. B., Collaço, B., & Calhau, J. (2020). Using seismic noise levels to monitor social isolation: An example from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Geophysical Research Letters, 47(16), e2020GL088748.

Eshete, Y., Alamirew, B., & Bishaw, Z. (2021). Yield and cost effects of plot-level wheat seed rates and seed recycling practices in the East Gojam zone, Amhara region, Ethiopia: Application of the dose–response model. Sustainability, 13, 3793.

Freiberg, J. A., Ludwig, M. P., Avelar, S. A. G., & Girotto, E. (2017). Seed treatment and its impact on wheat crop yield potential. Journal of Seed Science, 39, 280–287.

Henseler, J., Ringle, C. M., & Sinkovics, R. R. (2009). The use of partial least squares path modelling in international marketing. In R. R. Sinkovics & P. N. Ghauri (Eds.), New challenges to international marketing (Advances in International Marketing, Vol. 20, pp. 277–319). Emerald. https://doi.org/10.1108/S1474-7979(2009)0000020014  

Hussain, N., & Maharjan, K. L. (2025). Impact of on-farm demonstrations on technology adoption, yield, and profitability among small farmers of wheat in Pakistan—An experimental study. Agriculture, 15(2), 214. https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture15020214

Kassie, M., Jaleta, M., Shiferaw, B., Mmbando, F., & Mekuria, M. (2013). Adoption of interrelated sustainable agricultural practices in smallholder systems: Evidence from rural Tanzania. Technological Forecasting and Social Change, 80(3), 525–540. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.techfore.2012.08.007
Note: The reference supplied as 2015 appears to correspond to the 2013 publication.

Lamichhane, J. R., Corrales, D. C., & Soltani, E. (2022). Biological seed treatments promote crop establishment and yield: A global meta-analysis. Agronomy for Sustainable Development, 42, 45. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13593-022-00761-z
Note: The author list in the supplied reference appears inconsistent with the published article.

Larik, S. A., Amin, A., Gul, A., Panhwar, P., Sahito, J. G. M., & Hua, G. (2024). Investigating the impact of agricultural credit on wheat farming: Evidence from Pakistan. Agriculture, 14, 2200.

Martin, I., Gálvez, L., Guasch, L., & Palmero, D. (2022). Fungal pathogens and seed storage in the dry state. Plants, 11, 3167.

Moumni, M., Allagui, M. B., Mancini, V., Murolo, S., Tarchoun, N., & Romanazzi, G. (2020). Morphological and molecular identification of seedborne fungi in squash (Cucurbita maxima, Cucurbita moschata). Journal of Plant Diseases and Protection, 127, 1335–1350.

Munkvold, G. P. (2009). Seed pathology progress in academia and industry. Annual Review of Phytopathology, 47, 285–311.

Qian, J., & Zhao, Z. (2017). Estimating the contribution of new seed cultivars to increases in crop yields: A case study for corn. Sustainability, 9, 1282.

Rayhan, S. J., Rahman, M. S., & Lyu, K. (2023). The role of rural credit in agricultural technology adoption: The case of Boro rice farming in Bangladesh. Agriculture, 13(12), 2179.

Saeed, M. F., Jamal, A., Ahmad, I., Ali, S., Shah, G. M., Husnain, S. K., & Wang, J. (2020). Storage conditions deteriorate cotton and wheat seeds quality: An assessment of farmers’ awareness in Pakistan. Agronomy, 10(9), 1246.

Solberg, S. Ø., Yndgaard, F., Andreasen, C., von Bothmer, R., Loskutov, I. G., & Asdal, Å. (2020). Long-term storage and longevity of orthodox seeds: A systematic review. Frontiers in Plant Science, 11, 1007.

Tahir, A., Afzal, I., Khalid, E., Razzaq, M., & Arif, M. A. R. (2023). Rice seed longevity in the context of seed moisture contents and hypoxic conditions in the storage environment. Seed Science Research, 33, 39–49.

Trail, P., Motis, T., Swartz, S., & Bicksler, A. (2021). Low-cost seed storage technologies for development impact of small-scale seed saving entities in tropical climates. Experimental Agriculture, 57, 324–337.

Ullah, A., Saqib, S. E., & Kächele, H. (2022). Determinants of farmers’ awareness and adoption of extension recommended wheat varieties in the rainfed areas of Pakistan. Sustainability, 14, 3194.

Yigezu, Y. A., Bishaw, Z., Niane, A. A., Alwang, J., El-Shater, T., Boughlala, M., & Baum, M. (2021). Institutional and farm-level challenges limiting the diffusion of new varieties from public and CGIAR centers: The case of wheat in Morocco. Food Security, 13, 1359–1377. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12571-021-01191-7  

Yitayew, A., Abdulai, A., Yigezu, Y. A., Deneke, T. T., & Kassie, G. T. (2021). Impact of agricultural extension services on the adoption of improved wheat variety in Ethiopia: A cluster randomized controlled trial. World Development, 146, 105605. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.worlddev.2021.105605  

Yu, H., Luo, D., Li, S. F. Y., Qu, M., Liu, D., He, Y., & Cheng, F. (2023). Interpretable machine learning-accelerated seed treatment using nanomaterials for environmental stress alleviation. Nanoscale, 15, 13437–13449.

Zinsmeister, J., Leprince, O., & Buitink, J. (2020). Molecular and environmental factors regulating seed longevity. Biochemical Journal, 477(2), 305–323. https://doi.org/10.1042/BCJ20190165