ADOPTION OF SECONDARY NUTRIENTS AND MICRONUTRIENTS BY VEGETABLE GROWERS IN UTTARAKHAND
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Date
2023-07-01
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G.B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar-263145
Abstract
The temperate climate of Uttarakhand is conducive for cultivation of various fruits and vegetables. Uttarakhand ranks 19th in vegetable production and 23rd in terms of productivity. Intensive agriculture and cultivation of HYVs has resulted in depletion of soil fertility. Nutrient deficiencies are found in oilseed crops, legumes, and vegetables affecting the productivity and overall food production in the state. Deficiency of nutrients in soil not only impacts the growth of the crop and production, but also affects human and animal health. Keeping their points in mind, a study entitled “Adoption of Secondary Nutrients and Micronutrients by Vegetable Growers in Uttarakhand” was taken up to find out the extent of adoption of secondary nutrients and micronutrients by vegetable growers and to identify the key constraints faced by them in adoption of secondary nutrients and micronutrients.
The study was conducted in Udham Singh Nagar and Pithoragarh districts of Uttarakhand. Bazpur and Khatima blocks were selected randomly from Udham Singh Nagar district. Similarly, Bin and Munakot blocks were selected from Pithoragarh district. Total eight villages, two villages from each block i. e. Kannaura, Maheshpura, Nausar, Bhillaya, Kharkini, Bhuni Gaon, Daula and Puneri Mahar were selected randomly. All vegetable growers from the eight villages (107) were considerd for the study and pre tested interview schedule and knowledge test were used for data collection. Descriptive research design was used to meet the objectives of the study.
The findings of the study revealed that majority of the respondents were male (86.92%), primarly dependent on agriculture and allied activities (78.50%) and belonged to low income category (81.31%). Slightly more than half of the respondents belonged to middle age group (52.34%), had medium farming experience (52.34%), high innovativeness (53.27%) and high scientific orientation (59.81%). Maximum number of respondents were educated upto intermediate (26.17%) and had high information seeking behaviour (43.93%). The main crops grown by majority of vegetable growers in Kharif season were cole crops, tomato, beans, brinjal, okra, capsicum and chilli. Pea, coriander, fenugreek, beans, spinach and potato were main crops grown in Rabi season. Beans, cucumber, capsicum, tomato, bottle gourd, sponge gourd, pumpkin were grown in Zaid season. Majority of respondents had no training exposure (68.22%), owned marginal land holding (79.44%), had low farm implement ownership (81.71%), medium risk taking ability (81.31%), medium social participation (82.00%) and follow high cropping intensity (77.57%). Further, 98.13 per cent respondents owned television and 95.13 per cent owned mobile phone. It was found that majority of the respondents had low knowledge level (91.59%) regarding secondary nutrients and micronutrients. Majority of the respondents had medium (62.62%) extent of adoption. Findings also revealed that knowledge level of vegetable growers regarding secondary nutrients and micronutrients was positively and significantly related to extent of adoption. Lack of knowledge about the importance of secondary nutrients and micronutrients, lack of ability to calculate fertilizer dose, high prices of fertilizers, lack of government subsidy, lack of trust in modern practices and lack of information about availability of soil nutrients in subsidized shops were the major constraints faced by vegetable growers in adoption of secondary nutrients and micronutrients.
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