Knowledge and Adoption of Recommended Okra Cultivation Practices by the Farmers in Jaipur District of Rajasthan
Abstract
Okra is cultivated mainly in Jaipur, Sirohi, Bundi, Alwar, Chittorgarh
and Hanumangarh districts of Rajasthan. In Rajasthan, Jaipur district
ranked first in area of okra cultivation. The climatic conditions of the Jaipur
district are most suitable for cultivation of okra and till today no systematic
efforts have been made by researchers in the field of study on knowledge
and adoption of recommended okra cultivation practices by the farmers in
proposed area. Keeping this view in mind, the present investigation
entitled “Knowledge and Adoption of Recommended Okra Cultivation
Practices by the Farmers in Jaipur District of Rajasthan” was
undertaken in the study area with the following specific objectives:
1. To measure the knowledge of farmers about recommended
cultivation practices of okra.
2. To find out the extent of adoption of recommended cultivation
practices of okra by the farmers.
3. To study the relationship of independent variables of farmers with
their knowledge and extent of adoption of recommended cultivation
practices of okra.
4. To identify the constraints perceived by the farmers in adoption of
recommended cultivation practices of okra.The present study was conducted purposely in selected Jaipur
district of Rajasthan. Out of total 21 tehsils in Jaipur district of Rajasthan,
two tehsils namely Jamwaramgarh and Kotputli have been selected
purposely on the basis of maximum area of okra. Five gram panchayats
from each selected tehsil having maximum area under okra cultivation i.e.
a total of 10 gram panchayats were selected purposely. Two villages from
each selected gram panchayats were selected on the basis of maximum
area under okra cultivation. Thus, a total of 20 villages were selected for
the present investigation. From each villages, 6 okra growers growing okra
in at least 0.1 ha area were selected on the basis of simple random
sampling technique. Thus, total 120 farmers were selected for present
study.
The data were collected by personal interview method by using a
schedule specially developed for the study after getting expert‟s opinion.
The data so collected were classified, tabulated and statistically analysed,
which led to the following findings 1. Majority of respondents i.e. 74.17 per cent fell in medium knowledge
level group whereas 13.33 per cent okra growers were observed in
the high knowledge level group and remaining 12.50 per cent
respondents possessed low level of knowledge about recommended
cultivation practices of okra. The findings of the study also indicated
that majority of okra growers had adequate knowledge regarding
“Time of sowing” followed by “Soil and field preparation”, “Harvesting”,
“Seed rate and recommended spacing”, whereas they had medium
knowledge regarding “Use of high yielding varieties”, “Seed
treatment”, “Weed management”, “Fertilizer application”, “Irrigation
management” and “Plant protection measures”.
2. Majority of respondents i.e. 70.83 per cent were in medium level of
adoption group, whereas 15.83 per cent respondents were in high
adoption group and remaining 13.34 per cent okra growers were
observed in the category of low level of adoption. The findings of the
study also indicated that farmers had adequate adoption regarding
“Time of sowing” followed by “Soil and field preparation”, “Harvesting”,
“Seed rate and recommended spacing”, whereas they had medium
adoption regarding “Use of high yielding varieties”, “Seed treatment”,
“Weed management”, “Fertilizer application”, “Irrigation management”
and “Plant protection measures”.
3. The education, annual income, extension contact, social participation,
farming experience and cropping pattern of okra growers had positive
and significant relationship with their knowledge about okra cultivation
practices. Whereas their age and land holding were found to be
positively and non-significantly related with their knowledge level of
okra cultivation practices. It was also found that their education,
annual income, extension contact, social participation, farming
experience and cropping pattern were found to have positive and
significant relationship with their extent of adoption of okra cultivation
practices, whereas their age and land holding were found to have a
positive and non-significant relationship with their extent of adoption of
okra cultivation practices.
4. Majority of respondents i.e. 70.00 per cent fell in medium constraint
perceptors group, whereas 16.67 per cent in high and remaining 13.33
per cent respondents were observed in the group of low constraint
perceptors. The study also indicated that in input constraints,
“Unavailability of recommended chemical for plant protection
measures” and “High cost of insecticides and pesticides” in technical
constraints, “Lack of knowledge about plant protection” and “Poor
knowledge about doses of chemical fertilizers” in financial constraints,
“High cost of inputs” and “High cost of seeds of high yielding varieties”
and in marketing constraints, “Lack of storage facilities” and “High cost
of transportation” were perceived as the most severe constraints by
the okra growers