Agriculture Update

Nikulsinh M. Chauhan ¹, C. D. Pandya ²

Affiliations
1 Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Regional Rice Research Station (NAU), Vyara, Tapi (Gujarat), IN
2 Krishi Vigyan Kendra (N.A.U.), Vyara, Tapi (Gujarat), IN

Abstract

To support rural development programmes, the ability of farmers should be increased through systematic training so that they may understand each component of the recommended technologies. In Tapi district farmers were obtaining very low yield in gram. Low productivity of gram was due to lack of knowledge about scientific cultivation, poor nutrient management and lack of knowledge in IPDM. The gram cultivation is highly profitable in tribal dominated areas of the Surat and Tapi district. This crop is also advisable to the farmers for improvement of the soil physical, chemical and biological health. The human health point of view this crop is highly advisable to the people of the tribal region to control the diseases related to the mal nutrition and deficiency syndromes. The study was undertaken in Tapi district of South Gujarat. The results regarding overall knowledge of gram indicated that the low, medium and high level of knowledge before contact with KVK was 78.00 per cent, 16.00 per cent and 06.00 per cent, respectively and it was increased up to 08.00 per cent, 10.00 per cent and 82.00 per cent after contact with KVK. In case of knowledge regarding selected scientific innovations for gram high knowledge regarding selected scientific innovations were found viz., 87.00 per cent regarding new high yielding varieties, 83.00 per cent for integrated nutrient management, 81.00 per cent land configuration and 78.00 per cent seed rate, respectively. Majority of the farmer had low level of knowledge (76.00 per cent) before contact with KVK. After contact with KVK, 84.00 per cent of the farmers had high level of knowledge. 89.00 per cent of the farmer had adopted new high yielding variety fallowed by land configuration (85.00 per cent), INM (83.00 per cent), seed rate (82.00 per cent) and so on. From the above discussion, it could be inferred that after imparting training and other intensive approach by KVK, Tapi, majority (82.00 per cent) of the tribal farmers of these area had high knowledge level and majority (84.00 per cent) of the tribal farmers of these area had high adoption level about package of practices of gram crop. At the end it can be suggested this crop in the region is an important for increasing the income, improving the soil health, fertility and productivity and also to raise the standard of living of the tribes. The technology index indicates the feasibility of evolved technology at the farmer's field. Lower the value of technology index, more is the feasibility of the technology demonstrated. As such reduction of technology index from 48.92 per cent (2008-09) to 45.00 per cent (2010-11) exhibited the feasibility of technology demonstrated.

Keywords

Scientific Innovation, Technology Index, FLD.

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