KNOWLEDGE OF IMPROVED RICE PRODUCTION TECHNOLOGY BY THE FARMERS IN DUNGARPUR DISTRICT OF RAJASTHAN

India is the second leading producer of rice in the entire world, preceded by China. Rice remains a staple food for the majority of the world's population. More than two-thirds of the world relies on the nutritional benefits of rice. Rice is naturally fat, cholesterol and sodium free. It is a complex carbohydrate containing only 103 calories per one halfcup serving. Rice is primarily a high energy or high calorie food. It contains less protein than wheat. The protein content of rice is usually 6 to 7 per cent. In Rajasthan rice is grown on an area of 131126 Lakh hectares with a production of 265545 lakh tones (Anonymous, 201011). The major rice growing districts in Rajasthan are Banswara, Dungarpur, Kota, Bundi, Sriganganagar and Hanumangarh. The present study was conducted in Dungarpur district of Southern Rajasthan. There are total four tehsils in Dungarpur district of Rajasthan, out of which two tehsil namely Simalwara and Dungarpur have been selected on the basis of maximum area under cultivation of rice. Five villages from each identified tehsil were selected on the basis of maximum area under rice cultivation. Thus, in all 10 villages were selected for present investigation. For selection of respondents total 120 rice growers (60 small and 60 marginal farmers) were selected on the basis of random sampling method from the identified villages for the present study. The study indicated that 57.50 per cent respondents had medium level of knowledge about improved rice cultivation practices. It was also noted that the extent of knowledge about soil and filed preparation, time and method of sowing, irrigation management, fertilizer application and nursery raising was 81.39, 78.06, 74.44, 67.22 and 66.77 per cent respectively. While knowledge about soil treatment was very low with the extent of 40.00 per cent among the rice growers. The knowledge level of small farmers was more than marginal farmers. * PG Scholar, Department of Extension Education, Rajasthan College of Agriculture, Udaipur. ** Professor and Programme Coordinator, KVK, Dungarpur. *** Professor and Head, Department of Agricultural Statistics, Rajasthan College of Agriculture, Udaipur. INTRODUCTION India is the second leading producer of rice in the entire world, preceded only by China. Rice is grown extensively in India in about 42.56 m ha area with an annual production of 95.33 mt having an average yield of 2240 kg per hectare (Anonymous, 2010-11). Annual consumption is around 85 million tonnes. In India, Rice is cultivated in both seasons winter and summer. West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Punjab, Tamil Nadu, Bihar, Orissa, Assam, Karnataka and Haryana are the major rice producing states. More than 50 per cent of total production comes from the first four states. Food Corporation of India purchases around 20 to 25 per cent of the total rice production in the country both under levy from the rice mills and directly in the form of paddy from the farmers at Minimum Support Prices announced by the Government. In Rajasthan rice is grown in an area of 131126 lakh hectares with a production of 265545 lakh tonnes (Anonymous, 2010-11). The major rice growing districts are Banswara, Dungarpur, Kota, Bundi, Ganganagar and Hanumangarh. Dungarpur district contributes maximum production in the southern Rajasthan, while the productivity is far below (660 kg/ha) as against the state average of 2025 kg/ha (Vital statistics, 2010-11). This is due to cultivation of poor yielding local genotypes under rainfed and irrigated conditions. The soil and climatic conditions of Dungarpur district is suitable for rice cultivation. The improved cultivation practices have been diffused among the farmers by scientific Raj. J. Extn. Edu. 20 : 97-101, 2012 98 Raj. J. Extn. Edu. : 20, 2012 community in the reason but level of adoption of rice technology by the farmers is not yet known. Likewise the constraints that hinders the adoption needs to be known by research and extension systems for its improvements. The production of rice can be increased through timely adoption of recommended improved rice production technology by the farmers. Considering these facts in view, the present study entitled "Knowledge of Improved Rice Production Technology by the Farmers in Dungarpur District of Rajasthan" was taken up with following specific objectives: 1. To find out the knowledge level of farmers about improved rice cultivation technology. 2. To see the significant difference between small and marginal farmers regarding knowledge of improved rice cultivation technology. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY The present study was conducted in Dungarpur district of Southern Rajasthan. There are total four tehsils in Dungarpur district of Rajasthan, out of which two tehsil namely Simalwara and Dungarpur have been selected on the basis of maximum area under cultivation of rice. A complete list of all the major rice growing villages was prepared in consultation with the personnel of revenue and agriculture department from the identified tehsils. From the list so prepared, five villages from each identified tehsil were selected on the basis of maximum area under rice cultivation. Thus, in all 10 villages were selected for present investigation. For selection of respondents, a comprehensive list of rice growers was prepared with the help of village Patwari and agricultural supervisor of respective village and was categorized into small and marginal farmers category. Total 120 rice growers (60 small and 60 marginal farmers) were selected on the basis of random sampling method from the identified villages for the present study. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION 1. Knowledge of Farmers rgarding improved rice production technology To distribute the farmers on the basis of their existing knowledge level about improved rice production technology, three categories viz. low, medium and high level of knowledge were made by using mean score and standard deviation of the obtained knowledge scores by the respondents. Table 1 depicts that out of 120 respondents, 57.50 per cent respondents had medium level of knowledge about improved rice production technology. This was followed by 18.33 per cent farmers having high knowledge level regarding improved rice production technology. Whereas, only 24.17 per cent respondents were observed in the low knowledge group. Table 1. Distribution of respondents on the basis of their existing knowledge level towards improved rice production technology