Management of Dryland Sustainable Agriculture

The study was conducted in the Bhiwani district of Haryana state, which was selected purposively on the basis of maximum area under dryland agriculture. From the four blocks in the Bhiwani district 200 farmers (50 farmers from each block) were selected randomly. The concept of sustainable agriculture involves the evolution of a new type of agriculture rich in technology and information, with much less than intensive energy use and market purchased inputs. Thus, sustainability is the successful management of resources to satisfy the challenging human needs, while maintaining or enhancing the quality of environment and conserving natural resources. Keeping in view the ever-increasing population, development of dry land agriculture, the depletion of natural resources, environmental pollution and limitations of sustainable agriculture a study was conducted to find out the perception of dryland farmers about economic and social aspects of sustainable dryland agriculture in Haryana (India). The study revealed that majority of the farmers perceived minimum tillage, crop diversification, soil fertilization application, integrated nutrient management, weed control, integrated pest management, maintaining plant population, drought resistant varieties, moisture and water conservation practices, agro-forestry and subsidiary occupation like livestock, poultry, horticulture, vegetable etc., as economically feasible, viable, as well as socially acceptable and sustainable for sustainable dryland agriculture.Environmental Economics and Policy, Farm Management,

Judging causes of soil degradation and remedial measures for reclamation in Kaithal district of Haryana state

Soil degradation is a point of evolution which leads to a reduction of resource potential. About 7.40 m ha arable lands globally turn to degraded lands as a result of climate change and deforestation. The problem of soil degradation has been ever since cultivation of soils started because of increasing population of India at the rate of about 1.8% requiring marginal areas to be brought under the plough to meet the growing food demand. The present study was conducted in Kaithal district in the year 2018-19. The study revealed that ‘Excessive use of chemical fertilizers’ (88.33%) followed by ‘non- judicious use of insecticides/pesticides’ (85.83%), ‘less application of organic manure’ (85.00%), ‘deforestation (78.33%), and ‘over uplifting of ground water’ (75.83%) were found as most important causes of soil degradation. The  most important remedial action for problematic soil were found as ‘land for equal distribution of resources/irrigation’ (90.83%) followed by ‘application of Gypsum for sodic and saline soil’ (85.83%), ‘introduction of legumes in cropping system’ (80.00%), ‘recharge of ground water during rainy season’ (78.33%), ‘crop residue incorporation by happy seeder’ (77.50%), ‘application of green manuring/ organic manure’ (75.00%) and ‘leaching of salts in saline soil’ (72.50%). Soil conservation is important for the future use and future generation. The study would be helpful in soils conservation which may otherwise cause damage to plant growth which in turn may adversely affect yield and there by food security also

Socio economic profile of direct seeded rice (DSR) farmers of Haryana

The study has focused on socio economic profile, adoption level of Direct seeded rice (DSR) farmers and extension strategy to increase the adoption of DSR cultivation in Haryana (India). More than half of respondents (51.66 %) belonged to the middle age group 36-50 years and maximum 21.67 per-cent farmer qualification found metric. Majority of the farmers (50.83 per cent) had low level of socio-economic. Economic motivation of farmers was 70.83 per cent belonged to low to moderate level, whereas 67.5 per-cent of respondents belonged moderate to high innovation proneness. The overall adoption level of DSR technology was low to moderate, since 70 per-cent of respondents belonged to low to medium category

Constraints faced by farmers of Haryana state in adoption of masumbi (Citrus sinensis) cultivation

The study focused on the constraints faced by farmers of Haryana state in adoption of masumbi (Citrus sinensis) cultivation. The study was conducted in Bhiwani district. The constraints as perceived by the respondents were measured by the scores on the basis of magnitude of the problems. Constraints were categorized into inputs, marketing, production, technical and psychologicalconstraints. While analyzing overall constraints as perceived by farmers the findings revealed that high price of insecticides/pesticides (weighted mean score 2.25), non-availability of inputs at proper time (1.13), absence of agro-processing units (2.05), no support price (1.86), aberrant climatic conditions (1.99), unawareness about proper and balanced fertilizer application and time of application (1.99), lack of guidance of post-harvest technology (1.95), lack of knowledge of current advances in fruit cultivation (1.34), longer time taken in fruit bearing (1.51) and orchard maintenance(1.34) etc. were major constraints faced by the farmers

A sustainable rice production technology: problems and prospects

The study has focused on problems and prospects perceived by farmers’ for growing rice in direct seeded cultivation mode i.e. Direct Seeded Rice (DSR) in Haryana (India). Overall adoption of DSR technology was low to moderate since 70 per cent respondents belonged to these categories. The method of sowing (weighted mean score 3.0), depth of sowing (2.93) and seed treatment (2.93) were highly adopted agronomic practices, whereas least adopted practices were like recommended seed rate (1.94), timely application of fertilizers (1.87) and their recommended doses (1.73), and ferrous sulphate use only at deficiency syndrome (1.19) not as per recommended schedule. Among constraints non-availability of quality seeds, fertilizers, weedicides and pesticides in required quantity and at proper time (1.64), high weed infestation in DSR in comparison to transplanting (2.88), wide fluctuation in prices (2.83) of basmati paddy due to lack of MSP, lack of storage facilities in villages (2.78), lack of proper knowledge of irrigation schedule (1.73), non-availability of extension personnel (1.64), lack of low credit facility (1.62), non-availability of agricultural magazines and literature in time in villages (2.78), lack of stable procurement policy for basmati rice (2.78) and lack of trained field staff to provide technical guidance during cultivation (2.02) process were serious constraints faced by farmers in adoption of DSR technology in Haryana. Since majority of respondent farmers agreed that DSR technology give better net returns in comparison to transplanting (2.95), less labour requirement (2.92) and best suited to climate change risks (2.66)

Prospects of Citrus sinensis (masumbi) cultivation in Haryana State, India

The empirical study on prospects of Citrus sinensis cultivation by farmers indicated that overall prospects of masumbi (C. sinensis) crop were medium to high since 77.5% respondents belonged to these categories. Majority of respondents agreed that better market facilities (weighted mean score 2.72), increased purchasing power of people (2.65), better fruit quality (2.62), better economic return (2.53) and increase in demand of fruit were the major prospective aspects for its wider adoption (2.53), whereas better technical support (1.20) and better credit facilities (1.08) both were not up to the desired level as expressed by the farmers. So the government should make concerted efforts to further strengthen the highly prospective aspects like better marketing facilities, cultivars of better quality fruits at farm gate or village level. On the basis of result obtained, the prospects of masumbi (C. sinensis) cultivation may be high in future

Preference of farmers towards private and public extension services

The main purpose of this study was to know the preference of farmers for different services provided by private and public extension agencies. In recent times involvement of private extension agencies has been increased in agricultural sector and up to some extent it has sidelined the public extension agencies, but public extension agencies have potential to do better and to reach farmers at their best. In view of this, present study was undertaken to find out the farmers’ preference towards public and private extension services in Ambala, Kurukshetra, Karnal, Hisar and Fatehabad districts of Haryana state. From each district two blocks were selected randomly and from each block two villages were selected. A manageable size of 10 farmers was selected from each village thus making total sample size of 200 farmers. Various aspects related to agricultural services provided by both public and private agencies were identified and response were obtained by putting a tick mark as per farmers’ preference for private and public agencies. On the basis of statistical tools like rank and mean score, results showed that farmers had great preference for ‘Input supply’ in private extension as compared to public extension followed by ‘Infrastructure facilities’. While for ‘Consultancy and diagnosis services’, ‘Information’ and ‘Technical services’, public extension was preferred as over the private extension

Usage of soil health card in crop management practices for doubling the farmers’ income

The data was collected from 15 selected villages from Sirsa district (Haryana), India during Rural Agricultural Work Experience program of B.Sc. (Hons.) Ag.(Final Year students) in 2017.Ninety farmers were selected, randomly. The study revealed that the 61.33 % of farmers were found aware about the SHC and farmers are found aware that ‘SHC studies soil health’ (56.34%), ‘it is a Govt. of India’s scheme’ (57.34%), ‘helped to reduce the input cost’ (53.67%), ‘give soil nutrient status’ (57.34%) and ‘it contain the soil type information’ (56.34%), ‘SHC contain the cropping pattern information’, ‘crop sequence information’ and ‘fertilizers dosages’ with 47.00 %, 47.34 % and 56.67 %, respectively. 53.66 % of farmers were aware ‘SHC helps to maintain the soil fertility’, ‘increases productivity of crops’ ‘judicious application of fertilizers’ and ‘soil-related constraints’with 53.00 %, 53.67% and 53.34 %, respectively. While, 47.00 % respondents were aware about the soil fertility map and SHC issued for three years with only 40.67 % of farmers. 56.67% of farmers had opinion that ‘SHC provides the dose of organic manure’ and ‘an idea of fertilizer’s usage pattern’ followed by ‘information about crop grown suited to soil type’ (54.44%). 53.33%farmers had opinion that ‘it helps to increase the organic matter in soil’, ‘timely management of fertilizers’ and ‘improve the quality of produce’. Further, 50.00% farmers had opinion that ‘provide the dose of farmyard manure (FYM)/ compost’ and ‘provides the dose of lime and gypsum’.  These findings are of noval nature based on primary data collected directly from farmers. The study soil health is of very much importance for motivating farmers to use balanced fertilizers application for all field crops

Study of constraints analysis in organic farming cultivation in Sonipat and Hisar district of Haryana state, India

The present study was undertaken in two purposively selected districts, namely Sonipat and Hisar of Haryana state and a total no. of one hundred twenty farmers were selected and interviewed to study the prospects of organic farming and to assess the constraints in adoption of organic farming. The finding regarding farmers’ per-ception about input constraints in adoption of organic farming show that lack of knowledge and demand of bio pesticides (90.8%) was ranked first, the results regarding perception about technical constraints in adopting of organic farming reveals that non- availability of improved organic production technology and Lack of knowledge about weed management practices in organic farming were ranked first (94.2 %). The finding regarding farmers perception about marketing and economic constraints in adoption of organic farming showed that no separate market for organic produces and Weak marketing network /sale point both were ranked first with highest weight mean score (360). Absolutely hundred percent of the respondents had perceived it as most serious constraint in organic farming, the results show that transfer of technology constraints in adoption of organic farming namely, Data bank not available about consumers and demand was ranked first with highest weight mean score (2.98). Moreover 98.3 percent of the farmers had perceived it as most serious constraint in organic farming and the finding regarding farmers’ perception of certification constraints in organic farming shows that complicated process of organic certification was ranked first constraint (67.5 which in tern reflects the combersome procedure that may restrict the adoption of organic cultivation

AGRO PROCESSING INDUSTRIES---A CHALLENGEING ENTREPRENEURSHIP FOR RURAL DEVELOPMENT

ABSTRACT Entrepreneurs are encountering a number of constraints pertaining to finance, marketing, technological and export for smooth running of their entrepreneurial units. There is urgent need to provide the facilities which facilitate them setting up of economically viable units and they should be equipped with latest technologies and skills by organizing different entrepreneurial motivational and skill oriented programs frequently. The present study was undertaken in the four industrially leading districts of Haryana state to determine the correlates; the specific training needs of entrepreneurs; to make an assessment of problems encountered by entrepreneurs to facilitate setting up of sustainable units. A total number of 120 entrepreneurs were interviewed for the study