Informatics Publishing Limited

A. K. Singh ¹, S. K. Dubey ², Uma Sah ³, Lakhan Singh ⁴

Affiliations
1 Indian Council of Agricultural Research, New Delhi 110 001, IN
2 ICAR-Agricultural Technology Application Research Institute, Kanpur 208 002, IN
3 ICAR-Indian Institute of Pulses Research, Kanpur 208 024, IN
4 Division of HRD and Training, ICAR-Indian Institute of Soil and Water Conservation, Dehradun 248 195, IN

Abstract

In developing countries, the major role of agricultural extensions is to disseminate farm technologies developed by the public funded research organizations, through demonstrations, field visits and farmers' meetings or through media and others. Earlier, the extension personnel were involved in technology diffusion, but in the last two decades, the nature of agricultural technology design and integration is drawing attention of the extension professionals and practitioners across the globe. In India, different models for transfer of farm technology have been tested and also robust extension education approaches have been validated. Furthermore, the frontline extension system of the country has been sharpened through more farmer-centric approaches for technology adaptation and dissemination. Globally too, the adjustment in public extension system is seen. Using China and USA as case studies, we highlight the changes the public extension system has undergone. The operational paradigm of the country's extension system has been suggested to move beyond technology and beyond commodity through ensured reciprocal farmer-research-extension linkages.

Keywords

Adaptation, ATMA, Extension Delivery System, Frontline Extension System.

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Trisha Roy ¹, Suresh Kumar ¹, Lekh Chand ¹, D. M. Kadam ¹, Bankey Bihari ¹, S. S. Shrimali ¹, Rajesh Bishnoi ¹, U. K. Maurya ¹, Madan Singh ¹, M. Muruganandam ¹, Lakhan Singh ¹, S. K. Sharma ¹, Rakesh Kumar ¹, Anil Mallik ¹

Affiliations
1 ICAR-Indian Institute of Soil and Water Conservation, Dehradun 248 195, IN

Abstract

Farmers in the North West Himalayan region generally practise rainfed agriculture and have very limited scope for irrigation. Water scarcity is a major constraint for crop production in these areas. This problem exacerbates further during the Rabi season where vagaries of winter rain result in complete crop failure. This study was conducted in the Raipur Block of Dehradun district in the farmer’s field to study the impact of hydrogel on yield and productivity of wheat. Hydrogel is a hydrophilic polymer having high water holding capacity and can provide water to crops during moisture stress. Hydrogel was applied in the field in Rabi wheat with two broad treatments, i.e. with hydrogel (WH) and without hydrogel (WHO). Each treatment was replicated ten times, i.e. ten demonstrations were laid out in the field conditions. Hydrogel was applied at the rate of 5 kg ha^–1 and observations related to various plant growth parameters and yield were recorded. The plant population in hydrogel plots increased by 22% compared to the non-hydrogel treated plots. The effective tillers, plant height, ear length and grains per ear significantly improved due to hydrogel application. The total yield as well as grain yield increased significantly after hydrogel amendment. The improved performance of wheat upon hydrogel application was evident in the field. This technology could be promising in terms of productivity improvement of rainfed crops and in combating the moisture stress in agriculture.

Keywords

Hydrogel, Northwest Himalayas, Rainfed Wheat, Yield.

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