ASSESSMENT OF DETERMINANTS IN ADOPTION OF MICRO IRRIGATION SYSTEM BY THE FARMERS OF BANASKANTHA DISTRICT OF GUJARAT STATE
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Date
2020-10-12
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SARDARKRUSHINAGAR DANTIWADA AGRICULTURAL UNIVERSITY - SARDARKRUSHINAGAR
Abstract
Water being the important natural and limited resources, its efficient use is the most important criterion for the survival of ever increasing population. However, by adoption of economic water management system, the area under irrigation could be increased. Efficient use of available water has therefore, become extremely important. Rainfall is irregular and uneven in many parts of the country. Gujarat is also facing this situation. Shortage of water has become one of the main problems in Gujarat for farmers. Therefore, efficient use of available water has become extremely important, which can be done through micro irrigation technology. In this context, the micro irrigation system is an important irrigation management technique, which can play pivotal role and is an important contributing factor for increasing production and raise standard of living in farming community. Adoption of micro irrigation system by the farmers is presumed to be influenced by their personal, social-economic, psychological, and communication variables. However, the poor are mostly blamed for being resistant to new technologies without properly assessing the true hindrances for farmers to adopt the proposed technology on the ground. Taking this in view, the present study entitled as “Assessment of Determinants in Adoption of Micro Irrigation System by the Farmers of Banaskantha District of Gujarat State” was planned with the following objectives. Objectives of the study (1) To study the profile of the farmers (2) To measure the extent of adoption of micro irrigation system by the farmers (3) To find out the determinants of adoption of micro irrigation system (4) To identify the constraints faced by the farmers in adoption of micro irrigation system (5) To seek the suggestions from the farmers to overcome the constraints faced by them in adopting micro irrigation system
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Methodology The present study was undertaken in Banaskantha district of Gujarat state. The study was conducted in Tharad, Deodar and Lakhani talukas and five villages from each taluka were selected at random. Ten farmers were selected randomly from each village which constituted final sample of 150 farmers for the study. Data were collected with the help of pre-tested, structured interview schedule through personal contact to each respondent. The dependent and independent variables were measured with the help of suitable scales and procedures. The multiple regression was calculated to identify the determinants of adoption of micro irrigation system by the farmers with twelve independent variables which were grouped into (i) personal, (ii) socio-economical, (iii) communicational and (iv) psychological variables. The data were collected, coded, tabulated and interpreted in light of the objectives. Major findings (1) Nearly half (50.67 per cent) of the farmers were found in middle age group and two-fifths (38.66 per cent) of the farmers had primary and middle school education. (2) Nearly two-fifths (38.66 per cent) of the farmers were dependent on farming and animal husbandry, more than two-thirds (68.00 per cent) of the farmers had annual income ranging from ₹1,00,000 to ₹5,00,000. Nearly two-fifths (40.67 per cent) of the farmers had 1.00 to 2.00 ha of land holding, little more than two-fifths (43.33 per cent) of the farmers had three family labours and nearly three-fourths (73.33 per cent) of the farmers were using tube-well as an irrigation source. (3) Nearly half (46.67 per cent) of the farmers were having membership in more than one organization and nearly two-thirds (65.33 per cent) of the farmers had medium level of utilization of information sources. (4) Two-thirds (66.67 per cent) of the farmers had medium level of economic motivation, nearly three-fourths (74.67 per cent) of the farmers had medium risk orientation, three-fifths (60.00 per cent) of the farmers had medium perception towards micro irrigation system and little more three-fifths (61.33 per cent) of the farmers had adopted the micro irrigation technologies at medium extent. (5) The independent variables viz., age, land holding, source of irrigation, sources of information, economic motivation and perception towards benefits of micro irrigation system were important determinants of adoption of micro irrigation system. (6) The major constraints perceived by the farmers were; clumsy procedure for getting loan/subsidy, very high maintenance cost, high initial installation cost, non-availability of skilled labour for operating MIS. (7) The major suggestions endorsed by the farmers were; train the farmers about various aspects of micro irrigation system, train the local youth as micro irrigation system technician so that micro irrigation system service centers are made available at local level, provision should be made to purchase subsidized micro irrigation system set directly from open market instead of empanelled dealers so that sales services can be ascertained from the dealers.