Constraints in adoption of improved cultivation practices in Greengram and Black Gram

Introduction

Adoption of improved agricultural practices among the farmers is one of the most critical factors increasing the production and productivity in agricultural crop for overall development of the country. Adoption of improved agricultural practices is a dynamic and complex process. Scientists, extension workers and various other agencies contribute to accelerating the adoption of improved agricultural practices. Each of them has a distinct role in promoting the adoption of improved agricultural practices. Nevertheless, it is the farmers who occupy central position in this scheme because it is they who take the decision to adopt or reject. The farmers do not adopt new agricultural practices without giving thought to the matter, or on merely being told to do so. Several factors influence them in adoption of improved agricultural practices. India grows a variety of pulse crops under a wide range of agro-climatic conditions and has a pride of being the world's largest producer of pulses. It is important source of protein especially for vegetarian and is also referred as poor man's meat. The major pulse crops grown in India are black gram, green gram, chickpea, pigeon pea, lentil and field pea, in which India produces 70 per cent of worlds' black gram and green gram production and accounts for 10 per cent of country's total pulse production (Gowda et al., 2013) [2] . Black gram is also known as Urd or Black lentil. It is one of the most important pulse crops grown throughout the country in very diverse agro-climatic conditions. According to annual report of Ministry of Agriculture, 2014 [7] black gram and green gram produces 22.10 Kg of Nitrogen/ha, which is equivalent to 59 thousand tons of urea annually. Furthermore, it helps in fixing atmospheric nitrogen in symbiotic association with the rhizobium bacteria that is present on the root nodules and hence maintains the soil fertility. Black gram and green gram supplements the cereal-based diet and contains about 26 per cent vegetable protein, which is three times that of cereals. It is well known that a diet deficient in protein intake can cause Protein Energy Malnutrition. The leading states producing black gram in India are Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Karnataka. These states contribute 80 per cent of total pulse production as reported by the Directorate of Economics and Statistics, Department of Agriculture and Cooperation, 2020-21. In Telangana State black gram is grown in 37460 ha. area with a production of 50,226 tonnes, with average yield of 1335 kg/ha. Agriculture is main occupation of majority of the population in the rural area of Khammam district. According to the Commissionerate of Agriculture, Govt. of Telangana (2020-21) the average yield of black gram is only 1335 kg/ha. as against the recommended average yield of the crop is 15-20 quintals/ha (Panda, 2012) [8] . Green gram (Vigna radiate L.) commonly known as "mung" or "mung bean" is a native of India and central Asia and it was grown in these regions since prehistoric times. It is broadly cultivated throughout the Asia, including India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and South China. India contributes 33.00 per cent of global area with 22.00 per cent of global production of green gram. Among pulse crops, greengram is the third important crop grown in nearly 16.00 per cent of the total pulse area of the country (45.17 lakh hectares) produces 25.32 lakh tonnes with the productivity of 548 kg/ha (Anon., 2021) [1] . In India, major green gram growing states are Maharashtra (23.05%), Andhra Pradesh (17.39%), Karnataka (17.46%), Bihar (14.69%) and Tamil Nadu (7.25%) (Anon., 2021) [1] . Reported by the Directorate of Economics and Statistics, Department of Agriculture and Cooperation, 2020-21 in Telangana State Greengram gram is grown in 74083 ha. area with a production of 38068 tonnes, with average yield of 515 kg/ha. The low production of black gram may be due to the nonadoption or poor adoption of improved cultivation practices of black gram and green gram by the farm women and they may be facing some constraints in its adoption at their own farm. Hence this is a challenging task for the scientist and farmers. Under such condition it is quite imperative that reasons for the technological gap in black gram and greengram should be identified and studied critically in order to face the existing challenge of low productivity. In this context the present study was undertaken to study the adoption of improved cultivation practices of black gram and greengram to identify the constraints as perceived by black gram and greengram growers.

Materials and Methods

The study was carried out in Khammam district of Telangana to know the adoption of improved cultivation practices in black Gram and greengram by farmers and to identify the constraint perceived by them in its adoption at their own farm. A sample of 60 black gram and greengram growers was selected randomly from 24 villages of 12 mandal having highest area under black gram and greengram cultivation and from each village 3 growers selected as respondents. The data were calculated with the help of well-structured interview schedule. Respondents were categorized as high, medium and low adoption groups. The practice wise adoption of improved cultivation practices was ranked based on mean percent score (MPS) values. The constraints perceived by black gram/green gram growers in adoption of improved practices were tabulated based on frequencies and percentage. The mean percent scores were calculated with the help of following formula.

MPS= Sum of scores obtained by respondents in an item/Maximum obtainable scores *100

Results and Discussion Adoption of improved black gram cultivation practices

It is clear from Table 1 that the majority of respondents possessed medium level adoptions of improved black gram cultivation practices as indicated by the overall mean percent adoption scores (60.0).The study indicates that farmers had high adoption level of practices viz., soils (93.3%), variety (83.33%), seed treatment (80%) and medium adoption practices viz., spacing (76.66%) nutrient management (70%), seed rate (70%), pest management (66.6%), disease management (60%) and low adoption practices viz., the irrigation management (53.33%) and sowing time (63.3%), weed management (46.6%), bio fertilizer and foliar nutrition intercropping and improved varieties. So there is need to adopt which practices mention there package of practices for increasing of productivity. This clearly indicates there in a need to put more efforts by scientists and extension functionaries to convince the farmers about improved cultivation practices of black gram. The results are in conformity with finding of Meena (2010) [6] . Table 2 indicated that the majority of respondents possessed medium level adoptions of improved green gram cultivation practices as indicated by the overall mean percent adoption scores (66.6).The study indicates that farmers had high adoption level of practices viz.,soils(96.6%),variety(90%), spacing(80%), spacing(83.33%) and medium adoption practices viz., sowing time (73.3%), seed treatment (73.3%),nutrient management (760%), seed rate (70%), the irrigation management (63.33%), pest management (60%), and low adoption practices viz., weed management (40%), disease Management (50%),bio fertilizer and foliar nutrition intercropping and improved varieties. So there is need sensitize the farming community to adopt package of practices for increasing of productivity. This clearly indicates there in a need to put more efforts by scientist's extension functionaries to convince the farmers about improved cultivation practices of black gram. The results are in conformity with finding of Meena (2010) [6] .

Overall mean per cent adoption score

In black gram the overall adoption was concerned, it is evident from table 3, that majority of the respondents (60%) were having medium,23.33% for low and 16.66% for high level of adoption of improved cultivation practices. Where in green gram (Table 4) that majority (66.6%) of the respondents were having medium level of adoption of improved cultivation practices of greengram and 20.00 per cent as well as13.3 per cent were found in low and high category, respectively.

Constraints perceived by respondents in black gram and green gram cultivation practices

The constraints perceived by black gram growers were categorized into eight parts and data regarding these constraints are presented in table 5. The black gram growers perceived constraints like production technology in cotton and paddy fallow condition (93.33%), weed management (96.6%), Bio fertilizer and foliar nutrition (86.6%), intercropping and cropping system (80%), Untimely heavy rains (73.3%), sucking pest infestation (66.6%), YMV incidence (60%), lack of marketing facilities and post-harvest technology (53.3%) nonavailability of improved seed, lack of technical advice for crop cultivation, absence of regulated market and non-availability of fertilizers, etc. The constraints perceived by green gram growers were categorized into eight parts and data regarding these constraints are presented in table 6. The green gram growers perceived constraints like production technology for cotton and paddy fallow condition(90%), weed management(93.3%), Bio fertilizer and foliar nutrition(83.3%), untimely heavy rains (73.3%) intercropping and cropping system(80%), sucking pest infestation(60%),YMV incidence(56.6%), lack of marketing facilities & Post-harvest technology(53.3%) non-availability of improved seed, lack of technical advice for crop cultivation, absence of regulated market and non-availability of fertilizers, etc,. The other problems as expressed by a majority of farmers were high cost of fertilizers, seeds, insecticide and pesticides, poor knowledge about high yielding varieties and adequate storage facilities and supply of inferior quality inputs by the input dealers, fluctuation in market price etc. These finding clearly indicates the need to develop strong research based centers to tackle day to day problems and offer solution to black gram growers. To overcome the marketing constraints, there is need to develop networks of marketing cooperative basis. The findings are in line with the result of Mane (2012) [5] in their study on "

Conclusion

The study shows that most farmers have a medium level of adoption of improved cultivation practices for black gram (60%) and green gram (66.6%). High adoption rates were seen for soil preparation, variety selection, and seed treatment, while lower rates were noted for irrigation, weed management, and biofertilizer use. Key constraints include production technology issues, high input costs, and market price fluctuations. Enhanced efforts by scientists and extension functionaries are needed to promote comprehensive adoption of improved practices. Establishing research centers, marketing cooperatives, and providing technical training are essential for maximizing yields and productivity.

References

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