Thumbnail Image

Assam Agricultural University, Jorhat

Assam Agricultural University is the first institution of its kind in the whole of North-Eastern Region of India. The main goal of this institution is to produce globally competitive human resources in farm sectorand to carry out research in both conventional and frontier areas for production optimization as well as to disseminate the generated technologies as public good for benefitting the food growers/produces and traders involved in the sector while emphasizing on sustainability, equity and overall food security at household level. Genesis of AAU - The embryo of the agricultural research in the state of Assam was formed as early as 1897 with the establishment of the Upper Shillong Experimental Farm (now in Meghalaya) just after about a decade of creation of the agricultural department in 1882. However, the seeds of agricultural research in today’s Assam were sown in the dawn of the twentieth century with the establishment of two Rice Experimental Stations, one at Karimganj in Barak valley in 1913 and the other at Titabor in Brahmaputra valley in 1923. Subsequent to these research stations, a number of research stations were established to conduct research on important crops, more specifically, jute, pulses, oilseeds etc. The Assam Agricultural University was established on April 1, 1969 under The Assam Agricultural University Act, 1968’ with the mandate of imparting farm education, conduct research in agriculture and allied sciences and to effectively disseminate technologies so generated. Before establishment of the University, there were altogether 17 research schemes/projects in the state under the Department of Agriculture. By July 1973, all the research projects and 10 experimental farms were transferred by the Government of Assam to the AAU which already inherited the College of Agriculture and its farm at Barbheta, Jorhat and College of Veterinary Sciences at Khanapara, Guwahati. Subsequently, College of Community Science at Jorhat (1969), College of Fisheries at Raha (1988), Biswanath College of Agriculture at Biswanath Chariali (1988) and Lakhimpur College of Veterinary Science at Joyhing, North Lakhimpur (1988) were established. Presently, the University has three more colleges under its jurisdiction, viz., Sarat Chandra Singha College of Agriculture, Chapar, College of Horticulture, Nalbari & College of Sericulture, Titabar. Similarly, few more regional research stations at Shillongani, Diphu, Gossaigaon, Lakhimpur; and commodity research stations at Kahikuchi, Buralikson, Tinsukia, Kharua, Burnihat and Mandira were added to generate location and crop specific agricultural production packages.

Browse

20171
Reset filters
Subject: Agricultural Economics × Author: Gogoi, Boishali × End date: 2017 × Type: Thesis × Thesis Type: M.Sc ×
Reset filters

Search Results

Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
  • Thumbnail Image
    ThesisItemOpen Access
    RESOURCE USE AND EXTENT OF ADOPTION OF IMPROVED TECHNOLOGY IN CULTIVATION OF MAJOR CROPS IN SONITPUR DISTRICT OF ASSAM
    (AAU, Jorhat, 2017-07) Gogoi, Boishali; Saikia, R.S.
    The present study on the extent of adoption of improved technology in cultivation of major crops and its impact on farm returns was conducted in Sonitpur district of Assam with the objectives – (i) Study the resource endowment and utilization in cultivation practices of major crops, (ii) Examine the extent of adoption of improved technology and its impact on productivity and farm income, and (iii) Identify the problems faced by the farmers in adoption of improved technology and to suggest appropriate policy measures. Altogether, 100 sample farmers were selected randomly and then categorized into 4 different size groups i.e. marginal (0-1 hectare), small (1.01-2.0 hectares), semi-medium (2.01-4.0 hectares) and marginal (above 4.0 hectares) farms. They were selected from 4 villages viz., Panibharal, Garehagi, Monabari and Disri villages from Biswanath Chariali development block and Baghmara development block. The samples were selected using multistage random sampling technique. Mostly primary data relating to the agricultural year 2016-17 were used in fulfilling the various objectives of the study. Data were collected from the sample farmers using interview method with the help of questionnaires. Data on socio-economic variables, resource endowments of the farmers, input-output data on major crops were collected to examine the extent of adoption of improved technology and its impact on productivity and farm income of the farmers. Data on the problems faced by the farmers were also collected to identify various constraints of adoption of improved technology in the study area. Tabular method of analysis with average and percentage were used to study the resource endowment of the farmers, the extent of adoption of improved technology and the severity of various constraints faced by the farmers. Indices of adoption were constructed using 5 different functions. The result of the study revealed that with respect to socio-economic variables and fixed capital assets value, the bigger farm sizes were better endowed with resources (excluding family labour) and economically better off compared to their other counterparts. The extent of adoption of improved agricultural technology was the highest in case of Boro paddy followed by Sali paddy and potato. In case of pulses and oilseeds, the extent of adoption was very low. It was found that technology adoption was directly proportional to farm size. A considerable impact of improved technology on farm income was observed for all size groups of holdings and the impact was the highest in semi-medium farmers, followed by medium, small and marginal farmers. Regarding the productivity of the farms, technological impact had similar kind of effect as for the farm income. Bigger farms were seen to adopt more of the improved technology in their cultivation practices which lead to higher productivity. The various problems faced by the farmers on adopting improved agricultural technology were studied under 3 groups viz., technological constraints, economic constraints and social and other constraints. Of the various problems identified, lack of assured irrigation, lack of capital, unawareness and ignorance of recommended package of practice, high cost of HYV seeds and related inputs and climatic factors were more serious. These all indicated the need to strengthen the mechanism of resource supply and extension services in the study area.