PERCEPTION OF THE FARMERS ON ZERO BUDGET NATURAL FARMING IN PRAKASAM DISTRICT OF ANDHRA PRADESH
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Date
2018-01-27
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Department of Extension, College of Agriculture Acharya N.G. Ranga Agricultural University LAM, GUNTUR - 522 034
Abstract
The study investigated farmers’ perception on Zero Budget Natural Farming (ZBNF) in Prakasam District of Andhra Pradesh with the specific objectives of assessing over all farmers’ perception, the determinants of their perception, sources of information for ZBNF, constraints in practicing ZBNF and suggestions for sustainable ZBNF adoption. Sixty farmers practicing ZBNF were purposively selected from ten ZBNF clusters of Prakasam District. The data collected were analyzed using frequency counts, percentages and correlation analysis. Majority (65.00%) of the farmers had medium perception on ZBNF followed by high (18.33%) and low (16.67%). Great majority (86.67%) of the farmers agreed that soil will be enriched with ZBNF, quality production is possible with ZBNF, ZBNF increases micro organisms and earth worms in soil (80.00%), facilitates natural enemies population (68.33%), is complex to adopt (63.33%), weed management is difficult (55.00%) and ZBNF is difficult to practice (53.33%). But they have disagreed that adoption of ZBNF on large scale is possible (55.00%) and purchasing and maintaining traditional cows is difficult (51.67%). The major sources of information were trainings attended by the farmers on ZBNF (91.67%), Community Resource Persons (90.00%), Department of Agriculture (88.33%), practicing farmers (73.33%) and through television (51.67%). Trainings undergone, ZBNF experience, innovativeness, education and extension contact were the variables having highly significant positive relation with farmers’ perception at 0.01% level. The major constraints expressed by the practicing ZBNF farmers were non availability of ZBNF inputs (81.67%), lack of information on preparation and use of asthras (76.67%), low yields in initial years (75.00%), weed management (68.33%), preparation of asthras is difficult (63.33%) and intensive labour requirement (53.33%). The ZBNF farmers have suggested that creating awareness among farmers (78.33%), application of asthras through fertigation (71.67%), making ZBNF inputs locally available (63.33%) providing market support for ZBNF produce (58.33%) and giving wide publicity on the benefits of ZBNF (51.67%) would facilitate its large scale adoption.
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