EXTENSION STRATEGIES FOR RISK MANAGEMENT IN DRY LAND AGRICULTURE IN NORTH SAURASHTRA ZONE
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Date
2011-06
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jau,junagadh
Abstract
India has about 108 million hectares of dry farming area which constitutes nearly 75 per cent of the total 143 million hectares of arable land (Anon. 2005). In such areas crop production becomes relatively difficult as it mainly depends upon intensity and frequency of rainfall. Out of 19.6 million hectares of total geographical area of Gujarat, 96 lakh hectares area is under cultivation. Out of this cultivated area, 78 per cent (75 lakh ha) is rainfed (Vora, 1992). However, majority of the farmers of dry farming areas are not aware as well as not adopting recommended dry farming technologies, due to lack of technical knowledge and several constraints experienced by them in adoption of recommended dry farming technologies. Keeping the above fact in view, the study entitled “Extension Strategies for Risk Management in Dry Land Agriculture in North Saurashtra Zone” was undertaken with specific objectives viz, (1) To study the selected characteristics of the respondents. (2) To measure the knowledge level of respondents about recommended dry farming technologies. (3) To know the extent of adoption of the respondents about recommended dry farming technologies. (4) To ascertain the association of knowledge about recommended dry farming technologies with their selected characteristics. (5) To ascertain the association of adoption about recommended dry farming technologies with their selected characteristics. (6) To identify constraints faced by respondents in adoption of recommended dry farming technologies. (7) To seek the suggestions from the dry farming adopters to overcome the constraints in adoption of recommended dry farming technologies.
In context to above objectives, a sample of 120 dry farming adopters’ representing 6 village of Rajkot, Tankara and Jodiya Talukas of North Saurashtra was drawn by using random sampling techniques. To measure the dry farming adopters’ knowledge about recommended dry farming technologies a teacher made knowledge test was developed and used. To measure the dry farming adopters’ extent of adoption of recommended dry farming technologies the adoption quotient developed by Chattopadhyay (1974) was used with slight modification. The data were collected with the help of structured schedule by personal interview method. The data were compiled analyzed and interpreted in the light of specific objectives.
Findings
About one half (46.67per cent) of the dry farming adopters belonged to middle age group, while majority of the respondents (55.83 per cent) were from primary education group, medium size of land holding (64.17 per cent) and medium annual income (62.50 per cent).
Whereas, 82.50 per cent and 75.00 per cent of dry farming adopters were from medium level croping intensity and extension participation, respectively. Medium level marketing orientation 60.00 per cent, medium level mass media exposure 56.67 per cent, medium level social participation 53.33 per cent, medium level irrigation potentiality 48.33 per cent and medium level risk orientation 71.67 per cent and medium level innovativeness 47.50 per cent.
Majority of the respondents (63.33 per cent) were from moderate level of knowledge about the recommended dry farming technologies, followed by low (20.83 per cent) and high (15.84 per cent) level of knowledge about recommended dry farming technologies, respectively.
About 57.50 per cent of the dry farming adopters were from medium level adoption index, followed by 24.17 per cent and 18.33 per cent with low and high level of adoption of the recommended dry farming technologies, respectively.
There was positive and significant association with the knowledge about recommended dry farming technologies and their education, size of land holding, social participation, extension participation, cropping intensity, risk orientation, innovativeness and mass media exposure.
While market orientation was negative and non significant associated with the knowledge of recommended dry farming technologies. Age was negative and significantly associated with the knowledge of recommended dry farming technologies.
While remaining all characteristics of the dry farming adopters like annual income and irrigation potentiality were non significantly associated with the knowledge of recommended dry farming technologies.
There was positive and significant association with the adoption of recommended dry farming technologies and their education, social participation, and extension participation cropping intensity, risk orientation, innovativeness and mass media exposure.
There was no significant association with the adoption of recommended dry farming technologies and their annual income, size of land holding. Age was negative and significantly associated with the adoption of recommended dry farming technologies. While market orientation and irrigation potentiality were negative and non significantly associated with the adoption of recommended dry farming technologies.
The important constraints faced by dry farming adopters were: Appearance of periodic drought spells during cultivation, Poor return as compare to modern technologies, Lack of organized extension machinery to disseminate the proven dry farming technologies, Inadequate and untimely supply of agricultural inputs, Farmers don’t willing to take risk, Lack of information and experience regarding dry farming, Poor economic status of the farmers etc.
However the suggestions expressed by more than 60.00 per cent of the dry farming adopters to overcome the constraints in adoption of recommended dry farming technologies viz: Provide special administrative setup to promote dry farming, market facilities should be strengthened, inputs should be made available at subsidized rate, sufficient and timely credit facility should be made available.
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extention education