Adoption of upland rice technologies and its correlates

Abstract

The adoption behaviour of upland rice growers and their different socio-economic characteristics related to their adoption level were analysed in two selected districts viz. Angul and Dhenkanal of Orissa. The findings of the study revealed that majority of the upland rice growers exhibited medium level of adoption trend and 25 per cent of the farmers adopted rice+pigeon pea mixed cropping, as it was an age old practice. It was done to utilize the available moisture in the field to get more yield with assured economic return in the event of loss of rice crop due to drought. The big farmers were found to adopt more technologies compared to the small farmers, owing to more urban contact, extension contact, mass media exposure, risk preference and total knowledge on upland rice cultivation technologies. Further, the study also revealed major constraints in upland rice cultivation. The important constraints as perceived by them were heavy rain at the time of harvesting, more damage of crop due to gundhi bug attack during dough stage, non-availability of improved agricultural implements etc