Barman, SundarGoswami, Swapnali2023-10-272023-10-272021https://krishikosh.egranth.ac.in/handle/1/5810199758Maize is now being important crop component for cropping system followed in flood affected areas of Assam. Considering the importance of maize crop in flood affected areas, the present study was carried out in Morigaon district of Assam with following objectives - 1. study the extent of adoption of maize based cropping system in flood affected area, 2. assess the income of the farmers after adopting this maize based cropping system, 3. determine perceived effectiveness of maize based cropping system as coping mechanism for flood, 4. study the factors likely to influence in adoption, income and perceived effectiveness of maize based cropping system and 5. identify problems faced by farmers in adoption of maize based cropping system. A purposive and proportionate random sampling method was used for selecting respondents. Appropriate statistical methods were used for analysis and interpretation of data. It was revealed from the study that majority (76%) of the farmers show moderate level adoption of recommended maize cultivation practices. ’Sowing time’, ‘method of sowing’, ‘drainage facility and moisture maintain at critical stage’ were adopted by all respondents as recommended. While in case of varieties, weeding operation, fertilizer application, plant protection measures were adopted with modification from the recommendation. Different maize based cropping systems were identified in the study area, among which ‘Maize-Maize/Mustard- Vegetable’ and ‘Rice/Maize-Maize/Boro paddy-Jute/Vegetable’ cropping systems were mostly followed by the farmers. It was also found from the study that maize varieties such as P3401, DE222, Maharaja 92, Bumper and Sun Vamman were mostly grown in the research area. Maize based cropping system was found more profitable than rice based cropping system. The average income earned by the maize farmers was found as Rs. 3, 35,823 whereas the average income of rice farmers was Rs. 2, 92,649 and difference was found statistical significant. Majority (64%) of farmers following maize based cropping system was found as medium level effectiveness for coping with adverse effect of flood. Well established marketing channel, suitable climate and soil for growing maize and also a good benefit cost ratio of maize based cropping system were the important dimensions for farmers to consider it as effective. The result depicts that the explanatory variables ‘farming experience’ (X4), ‘maize cultivated area’ (X6), ‘cropping intensity’ (X8), ‘resource status’ (X9), ‘economic motivation’ (X15), ‘degree of innovativeness’ (X16), ‘perceived effectiveness’ (X18) and ‘income’ (X19) were found positive and ‘age’ (X1), ‘operational land holding’ (X5), ‘flood proneness’ (X7) were negative and significantly contributing for expressing the variation of extent of adoption. These variables together explained 87% (R2 = .878) variation of extent of adoption of maize based cropping system. The positive and significant contribution for explaining the variation in income of farmers were ‘educational experience’ (X2), ‘family size’ (X3), ‘operational land holding’ (X5), ‘maize cultivated area’ (X6), ‘cropping intensity’ (X8), ‘extent of adoption’ (X18), ‘perceived effectiveness’ (X19) and negative and significant contribution for explaining the variation in income of farmers was ‘market agent visit to a farm’ (X13). These variables together explained 84% (R2 = .848) variation of income of farmers followed maize based cropping system. Likewise positive and significant contribution for explaining the variation in perceived effectiveness of farmers were ‘maize cultivated area’ (X6), ‘resource status’ (X9), ‘farmers visit to the market’ (X12), ‘extent of adoption’ (X18), ‘income’ (X19) and ‘flood proneness’ (X7) was found as negative and significant contribution for explaining the variation in perceived effectiveness. Around 69% variation of perceived effectiveness is explained by these variables in together. But different problems related to finance, market, production etc were also came into focused during the time of personal interview with the respondents. Extension agencies, both private and public extension system need to be strong for understanding the farmers’ level problem and try to solve them. There is also a need of different trainings on maize crop and extension system should put forward its sincere efforts for popularizing the benefits of maize crops among the farmers for its further adoption in future.EnglishThesis