farmers' perception and adoption of groundnut production technology

326 Pages·2016·2.39 MB·English

FARMERS’ PERCEPTION AND ADOPTION
OF GROUNDNUT PRODUCTION
TECHNOLOGY

BY

GORFAD PARBAT SAIVA
M. Sc. (Agri.)

DEPARTMENT OF EXTENSION EDUCATION
COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE
JUNAGADH AGRICULTURAL UNIVERSITY
JUNAGADH- 362 001

JANUARY - 2012
( Registration No. J4-00349-2007 )
FARMERS’ PERCEPTION AND ADOPTION
OF GROUNDNUT PRODUCTION
TECHNOLOGY

A
THESIS SUBMITTED TO
JUNAGADH AGRICULTURAL UNIVERSITY
IN PARTIAL FULFILMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS
FOR THE AWARD OF THE DEGREE
OF
DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY
(Agriculture)
IN
AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION

BY
GORFAD PARBAT SAIVA
M. Sc. (Agri.)

DEPARTMENT OF EXTENSION EDUCATION
COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE
JUNAGADH AGRICULTURAL UNIVERSITY
JUNAGADH- 362 001

JANUARY - 2012
( Registration No. J4-00349-2007 )
FARMERS’ PERCEPTION AND ADOPTION OF GROUNDNUT
PRODUCTION TECHNOLOGY

Name of Student Major Guide
P. S. Gorfad Dr. D. M. Thakrar

DEPARTMENT OF EXTENSION EDUCATION
COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE
JUNAGADH AGRICULTURAL UNIVERSITY
JUNAGADH – 362 001
==============================================
ABSTRACT

Groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L) is one of the vastly
cultivated oilseed crops in the world as it is cultivated in more
than 100 countries and that is why it is referred to as a
universal crop. India has largest area under groundnut
(7.6 million hectares) in the world comprising 30 per cent of
global area and 22 per cent (7.8 million tonnes) of world’s
production.
In India, Gujarat is the leading State in groundnut
cultivation in both area and production with 1.86 million
hectares and 2.57 million tonnes, respectively. Groundnut
cultivation in Gujarat predominantly concentrated in Saurashtra
region. Groundnut is cultivated across the region on 1.64 million
hectares of land with output of 2.25 million tones nut in shell.
North Saurashtra region of Gujarat state has 1.14 million
hectares under groundnut and produces 1.44 million tonnes
nut in shell with an average yield of 1327 kg/ha which is less
than the average of South Saurashtra region i.e. 1762 kg/ha.
There is a wide scope to enhance the groundnut production
per unit area. However, the productivity of groundnut crop is
low, because majority of groundnut growers do not know and
adopt recommended groundnut production technology. The
perception of farmers plays a crucial role in adoption of
groundnut production technology. Generally the groundnut
cultivation in this region is affected by inadequate, uncertain
and erratic rainfall, infestation by pest and diseases, and losses
during post harvest operations. In addition to these factors, the
level of perception, extent of adoption and a range of personal,
socio-economic, psychological and extension communication
factors are also important which influence the groundnut
production in the study area. Hence, it is worthwhile to assess
the level of Perception of the farmers about groundnut
production technology and factors which hindering the adoption.
Keeping this in view, a study entitled “Farmers’ Perception and
Adoption of groundnut production Technology” was undertaken
with the following objectives:
1. To develop and standardize a scale to measure the farmers’
Perception of groundnut production technology.
2. To assess the farmers’ perception of groundnut production
technology.
3. To assess the farmers’ adoption of groundnut production
technology.
4. To study the profile of groundnut growers of Jamnagar and
Rajkot districts of North Saurashtra Agro climatic Zone.
5. To ascertain the relationship between perception and
adoption of groundnut growers and their profile.
6. To know the extent of variation of selected independent
variables on the perception and adoption of groundnut
growers.
7. To elicit the constraints in adoption of improved groundnut
production technology faced by groundnut growers and to
seek their suggestions to overcome the same.
In order to realize the objectives of the study 180 farmers
were selected from 15 villages of 6 talukas of Jamnagar and
Rajkot districts of north Saurashtra agro climatic zone by
employing purposive, proportionate and multi-stage random
sampling technique.
In this study, the dependent variables (perception and
adoption) and independent variables (age, education, farm size,
herd size, annual income, groundnut crop intensity, groundnut
yield Index, irrigation potentiality, farm mechanization, social
participation, innovativeness, risk orientation, achievement
motivation, attitude towards modern agriculture, mass media
exposure, extension participation and participation in training)
were selected based on review of literature and consultation with
the experts. Perception scale was developed and standardized for
measurement of perception of groundnut production technology.
The extent of adoption of groundnut growers was measured by
developing the teacher made scales. The selected independent
variables were measured either with the help of scales developed
by other researchers or structured schedules developed for the
purpose.

The data were collected by personal interview method with
the help of structured interview schedule. The data so collected
were coded, classified, tabulated and analyzed in order to make
meaningful conclusions as under;
Majority of the groundnut growers were in middle aged,
medium level of education, medium farm size, medium herd size,
medium annual income, medium groundnut crop intensity,
medium groundnut yield index, medium irrigation potentiality,
medium farm mechanization, medium social participation,
medium innovativeness, medium risk orientation, medium
achievement motivation, medium attitude towards modern
agriculture, medium mass media exposure, medium extension
participation, medium participation in training, medium
perception and medium adoption.
The majority of farmers (66.67 percent) were in medium
perception category followed by high (22.00 percent) and low
(13.33 percent) perception category respectively. Farmers
perceived production technology as an important aspect of
groundnut cultivation.
Majority of the groundnut growers (64.44 per cent) were
medium adopters of the groundnut cultivation practices.
Whereas, 18.89 per cent were low and 16.67 per cent were high
adopters of the groundnut production technology.
The cent percent of the farmers adopted threshing after
proper drying with thresher by selection of variety, keep the crop
free from weeds for 45 days after sowing, after removing the
residues of previous crops soil prepared to a good tilth, selecting
of healthy and disease free seeds, gap filling is done in 10 days
after sowing and Harvesting at right maturity in descending
order.
Post harvest management practices like stacking the bags
on wooden planks keeping a meter gap from the walls in a well
aerated place, grading by removing immature and insect or
mechanically damaged pods and storing the pods in new/clean
polythene lined gunny bags, and use of bio agents i.e. seed
treatment with Rhizobium culture, use NPV 250 LE for prodenia
and heliothis or spray BT powder @ 1 kg/ha were the practices
which less adopted by groundnut growers.
There was positive and significant association was
observed between perception, education, farm size, annual
income, groundnut crop intensity, groundnut yield index,
irrigation potentiality, farm mechanization index, social
participation, innovativeness, risk orientation, achievement
motivation, attitude towards modern agriculture, mass media
exposure, extension participation and participation in training,
whereas, negative and significant association between perception
and age of the groundnut grower was observed.
There was positive and significant association between
adoption, education, annual income, groundnut crop intensity,
groundnut yield index, farm mechanization, innovativeness, risk
orientation, achievement motivation, attitude towards modern
agriculture, mass media exposure, extension participation in
training and perception, whereas, positive and non-significant
association was observed with herd size and social participation
and age of the respondents was negatively and non-significantly
associated with the extent of adoption.
Seventeen variables contributed towards 69.22 per cent
(R2 = 0.6922) variation in perception. Out of these, only eight
variables had significantly contributed towards variation in
perception. The contribution of these variables from highest to
lowest is innovativeness, adoption, farm size, education, annual
income, extension participation, attitude towards modern
agriculture and mass media exposure.
Fifteen variables contributed towards 61.30 per cent
(R2 = 0.6130) variation in extent of adoption. Out of these, only
five variables had significantly contributed towards variation in
extent of adoption. The contribution of these variables from
highest to lowest is perception, innovativeness, annual income,
extension participation and farm size.
The most important constraints in adoption of groundnut
production technology were; unavailability of certified seeds from
government authorized agencies at right time followed by shortage
of labour during critical operations especially at harvest and post
harvest stages, irregular, erratic and insufficient electric power
supply at the time of critical stages of irrigation, unreasonable
price of farm produce, difficulty in use of fertilizers due to
increased prices and in time availability, genuine problem of
damage caused by Neelgay and Bhund, lack of sufficient micro
irrigation facilities (sprinkler irrigation system) for providing
supplemental irrigation, high labour wages, lack of awareness
about recommended GPT, complicated recommendation to
understand i.e. doses are on hectare bases, lack of awareness
about integrated nutrient management, lack of knowledge about
the importance of seed treatment with fungicides, high price and
unavailability of organic manure and lack of awareness about
importance of gypsum (61.11 per cent).
The most important suggestion offered by farmers were
made available certified seeds from government authorized
agencies at right time, provision of remunerative price of farm
produce, required quantity of fertilizers should be made available
in time at subsidized rate, regular electric power supply with
proper voltage should be made available, creating awareness on
the efficient use of micro irrigation system, government should
take some measure to protect the field of farmers from the
damage caused by Neelgay and Bhund , imparting training
programmes for the farmers on production technology aspects of
groundnut prior to monsoon, educating the farmers about the
role of bio agents in controlling pests and diseases, and timely
supply of required inputs to farmers through government
agencies.
Dr. D. M. Thakrar
Major Guide &
Professor,
Department of Extension Education,
Junagadh Agricultural University,
Junagadh - 362001

-:: C E R T I F I C A T E ::-

This is to certify that the thesis entitled “FARMERS’
PERCEPTION AND ADOPTION OF GROUNDNUT PRODUCTION
TECHNOLOGY” submitted by SHRI GORFAD PARBAT SAIVA
in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the award of the
degree of Doctor of Philosophy (Agriculture) in the subject of
EXTENSION EDUCATION to the Junagadh Agricultural
University is a record of bonafide research work carried out by
him under my guidance and supervision and the thesis has not
previously formed the basis for the award of any degree, diploma
or other similar title.

Place: Junagadh (D. M. Thakrar)
Date: 19. 01. 2012 Major Guide