A study on adoption of soil health management practices by farmers in Mayurbhanj district of Odisha
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Date
2013-07
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G.B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar - 263145 (Uttarakhand)
Abstract
Deterioration of soil health through excessive and imbalanced use of chemical fertilizers is a serious issue during the post green revolution era. Knowledge about the nature and extent of the problem on the part of the farmers is an important constraint in adoption of Soil Health
Management Practices. Hence, the present study was carried out in Mayurbhanj district of Odisha state during February-March, 2013 in two villages, viz; Telibila & Rangamatia to study economic, socio-personal and communication characteristics of farmers in the study area, to measure the knowledge level & extent of adoption regarding selected Soil Health Management Practices by farmers, to study the relationship between knowledge level and extent of adoption, to find out the relationship between Socio Economic Status and extent of adoption and to identify the constraints in adoption of the selected Soil Health Management Practices. Farmers were selected randomly following probability proportionate to size criterion. A total of 90 farmers were selected. It was found that majority (53.34%) of the farmers belong to medium Socio Economic Status. Majority (64.44%) respondents had medium level of knowledge regarding selected SHM practices. About one fifth (21.12%) respondents had low level of knowledge followed by 14.44% respondents who had high level of knowledge regarding SHM practices. Majority (58.88%) respondents showed medium extent of adoption followed by 22.22% who had high and 18.89% who had low extent of adoption. Use of compost was found to be maximum and was adopted by 42.22% respondents followed by adoption of Acid Soil Amendment (ASM) by 38.88%. Use of phosphate in compost pit was not followed by 80% respondents and bio-fertilizer application was not adopted by 66.66%. Soil testing and soil sample collection were discontinued by 37.77% respondents. Independent variables such as education, annual income, land holding, social participation and extension participation were positively associated with extent of adoption, where as age and institutional participation were negatively associated. There existed a positive and significant relation between knowledge and adoption. Major problem faced by farmers in adoption of soil testing technology was difficulty in understanding and following soil test based recommendations. The other constraints in adoption of SHM practices were uncertainty in yield gain, long procedure involved in testing and the non availability of test results on time. Regarding INM adoption major constraints were lack of knowledge about recommended dose of nutrients, lack of awareness about bio-fertilizer and micro-nutrients and non availability of bio-fertilizers. Major constraints behind non adoption of ASM were lack of availability of amendments and lack of proper knowledge about its’ use. The study indicates that there is need to train farmers on application of bio-fertilizer and ASM. Report of soil test should made available to the farmer without much delay and in an easy language.
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