ADOPTION BEHAVIOUR OF RICE GROWERS IN SOUTHERN RAJASTHAN

The present study was conducted in Kushalgarh and Bagidora tehsils of Banswara distrcit of Rajasthan. Total 150 rice growers were selected from the identified tehsils for data collections. The findings indicated that 46 per cent rice growers had medium adoption level, whereas 32 and 22 per cent respondents had low and high level of adoption respectively. It was further noted that there was significance difference among large, small and marginal farmers with regard to adoption of improved rice cultivation technology. * Assoc. Professor, Deptt. of Extension Education, R.C. A. , Udaipur. * * Ex-M.Sc. Student, Deptt. of Extension Education, R.C. A. , Udaipur. * * * Assoc. Professor, Deptt. of Agricultural Statistics and Computer Application, R.C. A. , 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 43.77 million hectares area with an annual production of 96.43 million tonnes having an average yield of 2203 kg per hectare (Anonymous, 2008). Annual consumption is around 85 million tonnes. 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 127803 lakh hectares with a production of 259624 lakh tonnes (Anonymous, 2008). The major rice growing districts are Banswara, Dungarpur, Kota, Bundi, Ganganagar and Hanumangarh. Banswara district contributes maximum production in the southern Rajasthan, while the productivity is far below (1413 kg/ha) as against the state average of 1746 kg/ha. This is due to cultivation of poor yielding local genotypes under rainfed and irrigated conditions. The soil and climatic condition of Banswara district is most suitable for rice cultivation and production of rice can be increased through timely adoption of recommended rice production technology by the farmers. Considering these facts in view, the present study entitled “Adoption behaviour of rice growers in southern Rajasthan” was undertaken with following specific objectives: 1. To assess the extent of adoption of rice production technology by the farmers. 2. To see the significant difference among large, small and marginal farmers regarding adoption of improved rice cultivation technology. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY The present study was conducted in Banswara district of Southern Rajasthan. There are total five tehsils in Banswara district of Rajasthan, out of which two tehsils namely Kushalgarh and Bagidora 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 random selection technique. For selection of respondents, a comprehensive list of rice growers was prepared with the help of village Patwari and agricultural supervisor of respective Raj. J. Extn. Edu. 17 & 18 : 187-190, 2009 & 2010 188 Raj. J. Extn. Edu. : 17-18, 2009 & 2010 village. Total 150 rice growers (50 marginal, 50 small and 50 large farmers) were selected on the basis of proportionate sampling method from the identified villages for the present study. Relevant information was collected through face to face contact method. Thereafter data were analysed, tabulated and were interpreted in the light of specific objectives of the study. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION To get an overview of the respondents with respect to their level of adoption, they were grouped into three strata viz. low, medium and high adoption group. This stratification was based on the calculated mean value and standard deviation score obtained by the respondents. The data in Table 1 reveal that 69 (46.00%) of total rice growers were found to be from medium adoption level group, whereas, 48 (32%) respondents were reported from the group of low adoption level and 33 (22.00%) respondents were in the high adoption level. An analysis of large, small and marginal respondents regarding their level of adoption about improved rice production technology revealed that 18 (36.00%) large farmers were in the high adoption level and only 10 (20.00%) large farmers were in the low adoption level, while, 44 per cent large rice growers were found in the medium adoption category. Likewise, 50.00, 18.00 and 32.00 per cent small farmers possessed medium, high and low level of adoption about recommended rice production technology respectively. In case of marginal farmers’ category, it was observed that 44.00, 44.00 and 12.00 per cent respondents had low, medium and high level of adoption respectively about rice production practices in the study area. Table 1. Distribution of rice growers on the basis of their level of adoption of improved rice production technology