EXTENT OF KNOWLEDGE AND ADOPTION OF FARMERS ABOUT MODERN PRACTICES OF COTTON IN BHAL AREA OF GUJARAT
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Date
2004
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Publisher
AAU, Anand
Abstract
The beginning of the 20th and 21st Century has one thing in common as far as the national cotton production is concerned. However, the 100 years have seen a sea change in qualitative and quantitative production specific in trades in hybrid marginalized herhaceum cotton to poor resource and management predominantly under rainfed ecosystem. In future, cotton production must expect stiff competition both in terms of price and quality. Herbaceum cotton scores better than hybrids on account of its less cost of the production, tolerance to biotic and a biotic stresses, loose attachment of fibre to seeds, fibre maturity, etc. Gujarat has immense scope in producing organic cotton particularly in Wagad areas. Bhal is one of the major herbaceum cotton producing areas of this state. Knowledge and adoption of modem practices of cotton increased the cotton yield. Therefore they deserved better attention for adopting modem practices of cotton production by the cotton growers under rainfed area. The degree or extent of adoption might be the result of influence of the personal, socio-economic and psychological characteristics of the cotton growers as well as the constraints faced by them. That is why a study was planned to know the extent of knowledge and adoption of farmers about modem practices of cotton in Bhal area of Gujarat. OBJECTIVES The overall objective of the study was to know the extent of knowledge and adoption of farmers about modem practices of Cotton in Bhal area of Gujarat. The specific objectives of the study were as under; 1. To study the profile of the cotton growers. 2. To assess the knowledge level of cotton growers about modem practices of cotton cultivation. 3. To study the extent of adoption of cotton growers about modem practices of cotton cultivation. 4. To ascertain relationship between profile of the cotton growers and their level of knowledge about modem practices of cotton cultivation. 5. To study the relationship between profile of the cotton growers and their extent of adoption of modem practices of cotton cultivation. 6. To know the constraints and seek suggestions from the cotton growers to overcome the constraints in adoption of modem practices of cotton cultivation. The present study was conducted in Dholka and Dhandhuka talukas of Ahmedabad district. A random sample of total 110 cotton growers was selected from the 5 villages of Dholka talukas and 6 villages of Dhandhuka on the basis of area covered under cotton cultivation. Various scales developed by different social scientists were adopted with due modifications for the measurement of independent and dependent variables. In order to measure correlationship between independent and dependent variables correlation coefficient "r" test was used with the help of computer. MAJOR FINDINGS 1. Majority of the cotton growers were belonged to an old age group and had membership in any social organization. 2. Slightly more than two-fifth of the cotton growers had education up to primary level and medium level of economic motivation. 3. Nearly three-forth of the cotton growers had medium to high level of extension contact, low to medium level of knowledge and medium to high level of adoption about modern practices of cotton cultivation. 4. Two-fifth of the cotton growers were having medium level of media exposure. 5. Nearly three-fourth of the cotton growers had above 4 hectares of land holding and majority of them had up to 5 hectares of land under cotton cultivation. 6. Nearly half of the cotton growers possessed up to-3 animals. 7. Nearly two-fifth of the cotton growers had low level of material possession and high level of risk, orientation. 8. Little less than half of the cotton growers were having their income above Rs.60,000, 9. Majority of the cotton growers had medium to high level of market orientation and medium level of attitude towards modern practices of cotton cultivation. 10. Independent variables like education, social participation, extension contact, media exposure, cotton cultivated land, material possession, economic motivation, risk orientation and attitude were positively and significantly associated with knowledge level of cotton growers. 11. The characteristics like education, extension contact, media exposure, cotton cultivated land, material possession, income, economic motivation, risk orientation, market orientation and attitude towards adoption of modern practices of cotton were found significantly correlated with extent of adoption of modern practices of cotton cultivation. 12. Knowledge level of cotton growers had significantly correlated with their adoption level of modern practices of cotton cultivation. 13. The major constraints faced by the cotton growers in adoption of modern practices of cotton cultivation were non-availability of irrigation facilities including salty underground water and shortage of rainfall, risk of cotton cultivation, poor social and economic condition, high price and shortage of inputs, high rate and shortage of labours, lack of knowledge and complicated method of fertilizer application. 14. Main suggestions made by the cotton growers to overcome the constraints in adoption of modern practices of cotton cultivation were (i) irrigation facilities should be provided, (ii) subsidy or loan for seeds and fertilizers should be provided, (iii) information should be made available and demonstration should be conducted on modern practices of cotton cultivation, (iv) reasonable price of cotton production should be made available and (v) procedure of crop insurance should be made easier.
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Keywords
Extension Education, Agriculture, A Study