Pyasi, D.K.Suryawanshi, Deepali2016-07-212016-07-212014http://krishikosh.egranth.ac.in/handle/1/69106ABSTRACT Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) family (Solanaceae) is one of the most important food crop of the world. Potato has been cultivated in Nepal for a long time and it has become one of the most popular crop for vegetable purposes. Potatoes are economical food since they provide a source of low cost energy to the human diet. They are rich source of starch and vitamins especially C and B1 and minerals. They contain 20.6% carbohydrates, 2.1% protein, 0.3% fat, 1.1% crude fiber and 0.9% ash on fresh weight basis. It also contain good amount of essential amino acids like leucine, tryptophane and isoleucine etc. In India, potato is grown over an area of 1.87 million hectares, with a production of about 41.32 million tones and productivity 22074 kg/ha. . In M.P. potato is grown over a00 n area in 788hectares with a production of about 944400 tones. The productivity of potato is about 119.90 q/ha. Chhindwara division is the largest potato producing division in M.P. and its cultivation is done mainly in Chhindwara district. It is recorded from the available data that out of the total area of 3935 hectares under potato crop in Chhindwara district with a total production of 76603 tons and productivity 19470 q. /ha. The Chhindwara block shares an area of 2015 hectares only with a production of about 50375 metric tones. Even though the area under potato cultivation is high in Chhindwara district but the productivity is low (25 tonnes/ha) as compared to other potato growing district. So, there is a need to increase productivity through improved production technology. Based on this "A study on adoption behaviour of improved potato production technology among the farmers of Chhindwara block in Chhindwara district (M.P.)" has been undertaken with the following specific objectives:- • To know the profile of selected potato growers. • To determine the level of adoption of the recommended improved potato production technology among the selected growers. • To ascertain the association between the profile of the potato growers with their extent of adoption. • To identify the constraints in adoption of improved production technology of potato crop and suggest the measures to overcome them. In order to achieve these objectives, the investigation was carried out in Chhindwara block of Chhindwara district (MP). By using random sampling method 120 potato growers were selected from 10 villages. Data were collected with the help of pretested interview schedule. The data were analyzed by investigator using frequency, percentage, mean, Chi-square test and rank order. Most of the potato growers belonged to middle age group and acquired education upto middle school level. Maximum of them belonged to OBC category, having joint type of family and marginal size of land holding. Majority of the potato growers were growing potato crop in medium area of land in rabi season. It was also found that potato growers had medium number of farm power and other implements. Most of the potato growers were having mixed house type, medium material possession and had medium social participation. Majority of the potato growers were having medium experience in potato cultivation and had medium income. The study revealed that most of the potato growers had medium economic motivation, medium risk preference, low extension participation, medium mass media exposure, low information seeking behaviour, medium innovativeness and had medium market orientation. In case of knowledge level about different technological components, it was observed that seed and sowing management were perceived as more important components, whereas weed management, fertilizer management, irrigation management and storage management were perceived as less important technological components and also low knowledge level regarding improved potato production technology. Association between attributes of potato growers and adoption behaviour like age, education, size of land holding, area under potato crops, experience in potato cultivation, family type, cast, farm power, material possession, social participation, annual income, economic motivation, risk preference, extension participation, mass media exposure, information seeking behaviour, innovativeness, marketing orientation, knowledge level were found to be significant with adoption behaviour of improved potato production technology. Whereas house type and occupation had shown non- significant association with adoption behaviour of potato growers. The major constraints reported by the potato growers were electricity problem, lack of availability of technical information from gram panchayat, less rate of potato in the market, lack of training regarding improved potato production technology, lack of knowledge about insects and diseases, high cost of seed, fertilizers, insecticides, and implements, non availability of inputs in village and insufficient knowledge about the seed treatment and their doses. Similarly, majority of potato growers suggested that the electricity should be made available, technical potato production training should be given, visit of RAEOs should be more, rate of seeds, fertilizers, insecticides should be available in low cost, minimum support price should be attractive demonstrations should be conducted at the farmers field by agriculture department for transfer of improved potato production technology among the potato growers.enlivestock, diseases, biological phenomena, stimulants, germinability, humus, inorganic compounds, poultry equipment, wells, leachingThesis