ABSTRACT The average productivity of majority of the vegetables in India is lower (12 t/ha

Jay G Varshney

K K Barman

P K Singh

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62 Indian  Res. J.  Ext. Edu.  11 (1), January, 2011
Adoption Behaviour  of Vegetable Growers towards
Improved Technologies
P. K. Singh1, K.K. Barman2 and Jay G. Varshney3
1. Principal Scientist  2. Sr. Scientist  3. Director, Directorate of Weed Science Research, Adhartal, Jabalpur
Corresponding author e-mail : drsinghpk@gmail.com
ABSTRACT
The average productivity of majority of the vegetables in India is lower (12 t/ha) compared to that in other
agriculturally developed countries of the world. It could be enhanced through adoption of improved technologies
including weed management. The knowledge of farmers about vegetable varieties and their behaviour in adopting
these varieties and other technologies including weed management have been assessed. This study is based on a
total sample of 100 farmers selected randomly in Jabalpur district of Madhya Pradesh. A majority of the farmers are
reported to have high and medium level knowledge of improved technologies of tomato and cauliflower cultivation.
However, only 17 per cent in Sihora and 35 per cent in Panager Blocks of Jabalpur district are reported to be high
adopters of the improved technologies including weed management in Cauliflower. A majority of the farmers have
expressed that lack of control measures for weed, leaf curl in tomato, high cost of pesticide and fertilizer, lack of
marketing, impure seeds and chemical, timely labour availability as the major reasons for non-adoption of improved
technologies. A significant correlation between extension contact and knowledge and adoption of improved
technology has been found.  It is suggested that there is a need to strengthen communication methods like TV and
radio by extending the duration of farm programs and providing specialized training to the growers. Research
efforts should be strengthened to develop multiple disease, pest and weed-resistant varieties and direct supply of
these varieties to farmers. It is observed that co-operative farming may solve the problem of small farmers in respect
to post-harvest management and value-addition.
Key word:  Behaviour;  Adoption;  Vegetable;  Technology;
India is next only to China in area and total pro-
duction of vegetables with an average productivity of
15.2 tonnes / ha (APEDA 2010).  It occupies prime
position in the production of cauliflower, second in onion
and third in cabbage in the world.  However, there is
huge scope to further boost the production by increasing
the productivity per unit area of land with the help of
improved technologies. The average productivity of
cabbage, potato and pea in India is 22.0, 19.4 and 6.7
tonnes / ha, respectively  which is too low as compare
to the per hectare production of cabbage 55.3 tonnes in
Korea Republic, potato 44.8 tonnes in Netherlands and
pea 16.6 tonnes in France (Gopalakrishnan, 2007).
Vegetables are typically grown in India in field
conditions; the concept is opposed to the cultivation of
vegetables in green houses as practiced in developed
countries for high yields. The vegetables sector also
suffers from lack of availability of good quality planting
material and low use of hybrid seeds. (Reddy and
Tirkey 2004). Poor farm management and manual har-
vesting practices also apply to the vegetables cultiva-
tion in India.Keeping this  view in mind an attempt was
made to study the adoption behaviour of vegetable grow-
ers towards improved technologies for tomato and cau-
liflower alongwith to document the possible reasons of
non-adoption of the improved technologies with special
reference to weed management in the Jabalpur region
of Madhya Pradesh.
METHODOLOGY
The study was conducted in Panager and Sihora
blocks of Jabalpur district of Madhya Pradesh. A total
of ten sample villages, five from each block, were
selected in consultation with the local Agriculture Office.
Indian  Res. J.  Ext. Edu.  11 (1), January, 2011 63
A total sample size of 120 farmers was chosen by
randomly selecting 12 vegetable growing farmers from
each village. These selected farmers were personally
interviewed using a pre-tested survey schedule to collect
data on the recommended package of practices being
adopted in cultivation of tomato and cauliflower . To
understand the process and level of adoption, farm size,
participation in extension programmes of various
departments, contact with extension personnel and other
subject matter specialist, exposure to mass media and
social participation were considered as explanatory
variables, and knowledge of farmers about latest
technologies, adoption level, consultancy pattern and
other possible reasons of non-adoption were considered
as dependent variables. The variables were scored
according to the scales already developed and in-use in
the extension research studies.  The data were analysed
and interpreted in terms of frequencies, percentage and
score values.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Knowledge of farmers about improved technologies
in cultivation of vegetable crops:The result showed
that majority of the farmers were having medium to
high level of knowledge about improved technologies
for tomato cultivation.  It was found that  33.3, 41.7 and
25 per cent farmers fell in high, medium and low
knowledge level category, respectively (Table1).
farmers having low level of knowledge were almost
similar in both the blocks.
In contrast to improved tomato technologies,
majority of the farmers showed low knowledge level of
improved cauliflower cultivation technologies. Only
31percent of the total farmers were in medium to high
level of knowledge categories while 69 percent of them
were having low level of knowledge about improved
cauliflower technologies (Table 2).   The farmers from
Panager were a bit more advanced than Sihora block
interms of knowledge level.  Seventy six percent of the
farmers from Sihora showed low knowledge level as
compared to 62 per cent in Panager.
Table 1.  Knowledge of farmers about improved
technologies in cultivation of vegetable crops (N = 120)
 
 Knowledge
        Tomato   Cauliflower
      
  level
Sihora Panager Sihora Panager
(n=60) (n=60) (n=60) (n=60)
High 15 (25) 25 (42) 10 (17) 17 (28)
Medium 29(48) 21 (35) 4 (7) 6 (10)
Low 16 (27) 14 (23) 46 (76) 37 (62)
Note: Figures within the parentheses are per cent to total farmers
(n) from respective blocks.
However, the two blocks differed significantly in
terms of distribution of farmers in a knowledge category.
Forty two percent of the farmers from Panger showed
high level of knowledge about improved tomato
technologies as against only 25 per cent in Sihora.
Whereas about half of the farmers (48%) in Sihora block
were having medium level of knowledge in comparison
to 35 per cent farmers of Panager. The numbers of
Table 2.  Adoption of the improved technologies of
Tomato and Cauliflower by farmers
 
Adoption
          Tomato   Cauliflower
    level Sihora Panager Total Sihora Panager Total
(N=60) (N=60)  (N=120) (N=60) (N=60) (N=120)
High 17 (28) 19(32) 36 (30) 11(18) 19 (32) 30 (25)
Medium 35 (58) 30 (50) 65 (54) 4 (7) 3 (5) 7 (6)
Low 8 (14) 11(18) 19 (16) 45 (75) 38 (63) 83 (69)
Note: Figure within the parentheses are per cent to total
The data showed that the adoption level of
technologies among the farmers were more or less
similar in trend as recorded in case of knowledge level.
Eighty four percent of the total farmers under study
were in medium to high adoption categories in respect
to improved tomato technologies. While 69 per cent of
farmers were low adopters as far as improved
technologies for cauliflower were  concerned. In terms
of distribution of farmers in different adoption categories,
Panager block was slightly advanced than Sihora block.
Considering the total responses recorded for tomato and
cauliflower technologies, 32  per cent farmers of Panager
were high adopters of technologies as compared to 23
per cent (28% for tomato and 18% for cauliflower) high
adopting farmers in Sihora. The results of this study
suggested that strengthening of the extension facilities
could increase the knowledge and adoption behaviour
of farmers especially about improved cauliflower
technologies in the study areas.
A majority of the tomato cultivators in Panager
were medium adopters of practices like suitable soil
preparation, seed rate, fertilizer application, weed
control, plant protection measures and disposal of
produce (Table 3). While a majority of the cauliflower
64 Indian  Res. J.  Ext. Edu.  11 (1), January, 2011
cultivating farmers were low adopters of these prac-
tices. It was observed that only the technology relating
to transplanting of cauliflower seedlings was adopted
by majority of farmers. These findings are in line with
Horpar et al. (2006). This indicated that there was a
need for strengthening the training and extension
services for farmers at the village level especially in
respect to the improved technologies for cauliflower
production.   More or less similar trend was noticed in
regard to the adoption of improved tomato and
cauliflower technologies by the farmers of Sihora block
(Table 4).
Table 4. Adoption of improved practices in Tomato and Cauliflower by farmers in  Sihora Block. (in number)
S.               
Practices / Crops
Tomato Cauliflower
No. High Medium Low High Medium Low
1. Soils 4 (7) 43 (72) 13 (21) 6(10) 4 (7) 50 (83)
2. Seeds and nursery preparation 6 (10) 44 (73) 9 (15 ) 11 (18) 4 (7) 45 (75)
3. Transplantation 18(30) 18 (30) 24 (40) 10 (17) 20 (34) 30 (34)
4. Manures and fertilizers 5 (8) 47(78) 8 (13) 9 (15) 8 (13) 43 (72)
5. Inter-culture and weed control 12 (20) 40 (67) 8 (13) 15 (25) 5 (8) 40 (67)
6. Plant protection 3 (5) 47 (78) 10 (17) 12 (20) 3 (5) 45 (75)
7. Harvesting and marketing 5 (8) 48 (80) 7 (12) 3 (5) 12 (20) 45 (75)
Note: Figure within the parentheses are the farmers response measured in percent
An attempt was also made to identify the
knowledge source of farmers for growing vegetables.
It was found that seed shop was the major preferred
source of knowledge in both the blocks (Table 5).
Horticulture/ Agriculture Officer and Extension
personnel of State Agriculture University / ICAR
Institute were the other major agents in  providing
knowledge to vegetable cultivators in the study area.
Information consultancy pattern of vegetable
growers  revealed that mass media like radio and
television were not the preferred sources of knowledge
for these vegetable growers. It could be due to non-
suitability of time to listen to the programs on vegetable
production; and moreover programmes on vegetable
production technologies are rarely broadcasted.  The
farmers appreciated the introduction of farm advisory
services on T.V. and they are taking interest in watching
the programme and getting solution of their problems
using expert advice.High cost of fertilizers, scarcity in
labour, supply for production activities, lack of regulated
market and irrigation facilities, and poor selling price at
harvest were the major reasons for non-adoption of
improved technologies in both the vegetable crops in
the study area (Table 6).  Besides that the lack of control
measures for leaf curl viral disease was another
important reason for non-adoption of improved tomato
cultivation technologies by the low adopters. These
findings are close conformity with Feder, G. (2002).
Overall the study revealed that there was a signifi-
cant difference in respect to the adoption of improved
technologies for tomato and cauliflower production.
Although the two blocks differed in respect to the knowl-
edge and adoption behavior, in general only a small frac-
tion of the farmers remained as low adopters in respect
to the improved technologies for tomato.  While, a ma-
jor chunk of farmers of both the blocks remained low-
Table 3.  Adoption of improved practices in Tomato and Cauliflower by farmers in Panager block. (in number)
S.                    
Practices
Tomato Cauliflower
No. High Medium Low High Medium Low
1. Soils 37 (62) 6 (10) 17 (28) 9 (15) 4 (7) 47 (78)
2. Seeds and nursery preparation 21 (35) 28 (47) 11 (18) 19 (32) 3 (5) 38 (63)
3. Transplantation 32 (53) 13 (22) 15 (25) 30 (50) 14 (23) 16 (27)
4. Manures and fertilizers 9 (15) 40 (67) 11 (18) 20 (33) 4 (7) 36 (60)
5. Inter-culture and weed control 14 (23) 35 (58) 11 (18) 22 (37) 4 (7) 34 (57)
6. Plant protection 4 (7) 33 (55) 13 (22) 18 (30) 3 (5) 39 (65)
7. Harvesting and marketing 6 (10) 42 (70) 12 (20) 15 (25) 10 (17) 35 (58)
Note: Figure within the parentheses are the farmers response measured in percent
Indian  Res. J.  Ext. Edu.  11 (1), January, 2011 65
those who adopted the technologies for tomato, were
asked to explain the reasons behind such behavioral dif-
ferences. It was revealed that since the tomato was
already being grown for long time in the study areas,
the farmers adopted the technologies in due course of
time and it was easy for them to accept and adopt newer
technologies in respect to this crop. Whereas the culti-
vation of cauliflower at commercial level is a recent
trend in this area.  The farmers were more worried
particularly about the marketing of cauliflower as it is
to be sold off immediately after harvest. This risk fac-
tor inhibited them to adopt the new technologies.
CONCLUSION
The study concluded that Panager block was rela-
tively more advanced than the Sihora block in respect
to both knowledge level as well as technology adoption.
There was medium to high level of adoption of improved
tomato cultivation technologies, but very poor adoption
level was noticed in respect to cauliflower cultivation
technologies.It was expected that extensive extension
activities at village level and; through radio and TV in
respect to post harvest technology as well as
development of marketing, storage and post processing
facilities would remove the fear factor and thereby
would increase the adoption of improved cultivation
technologies for cauliflower in the area studied.
Alternative fertilizers, i.e. bio-fertilizers should be made
available to farmers to reduce the costs involved in using
chemical fertilizers and also for sustainable production.
Cooperative farming, easy accessibility to credit and
transportation facilities may solve the problem of small
farmers towards technology adoption.
Paper received on : August 13, 2010
Paper accepted on : November 09, 2010
Table 5. Information consultancy pattern of
vegetable growers
S.       Source of Panager Sihora
No.      information Score Rank Score Rank
1. Seed shop/ 75 I 58 I
Company agent
2. K.V.K /SAUs 63 II 35 II
3. Horti. Officer/ 48 III 30 III
Agri. Officer
4. ICAR Institute 42 IV 18 IV
5. AEO 25 V 15 V
6. Radio 23 VI 14 VI
7. Television 20 VII 7 VII
Table 6. Reasons for non-adoption of improved
technologies in cultivation of vegetable crops.
                         
Reasons
Farmers’ response %
Panager Sihora
Seeds
Impure seeds 20 15
Non availability of tomato seeds 15 22
resistant to leaf curl virus and
bacterial wilt
Fertilizers
High cost of fertilizer 41 38
Non-availability of required fertilizers - 12
at proper time
Plant protection measures
Lack of control measures for 82 75
leaf curl virus
High cost of plant protection 20 25
chemicals Lack of awareness 15 18
Others
Non-availability of timely labour 60 55
Lack of regulated marketing facilities 40 45
Suitable price at the time of harvesting 42 35
Lack of irrigation facilities 35 30
Poor texture of soil 10 8
REFERENCES
1. Feder, G. (2002). Adoption of agricultural innovatons in developing countries: A survey of economic development and
cultural change. 32 : 255-298.
2. Horpar, J.K.  M.E. Ristor, J.W. Mjelde, B.M. Dress (2006). Factor influencing the adoption of vegetable technology.
American J. Agril. Econ,. 72 (4) : 997-1005.
3. Reddy, T.M.  and  Tirkey, I.  (2004). Adoption of improved technologies of vegetable crops in Karnataka. Proceedings on
impact of vegetable Research in India. NACEP, New Delhi. pp. 143-150.
4. Gopalakrishnan, T. R.  (2007). Vegetable Crops.  New India Publishing Agency, Pitampura, New Delhi .  pp.34
adopters about all the improved technologies for cauli-
flower production. In view of this the farmers, specially


Adoption Behaviour of Vegetable Growers towards Improved Technologies

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Adoption Behaviour of Vegetable Growers towards Improved Technologies

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