Farmers perception towards use of soil health practices for crop production in Hingoli district of Maharashtra State

Introduction

India is one of the leading agricultural countries in the world, with agriculture forming the backbone of its economy. Nearly 61.50% of the country's population depends on agriculture for livelihood. Soil, a living and dynamic natural resource, is central to agricultural sustainability as it provides nutrients, water, and a suitable environment for crop growth. It takes nearly 1,000 years to form one inch of topsoil, emphasizing the importance of soil conservation and management Chandra and Singh (2009) [4] . Soil is a natural resource, which supports the biotic life on the earth. Among several factors which influence the crop production potential, soil fertility is the fundamental factor. It is one of the important elements that is required for agriculture, as it provides various nutrients to crops. It includes primary nutrients like nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K), secondary nutrients like Calcium (ca), magnesium (mg), and sulphur (S). Some micronutrients are also present in the soil that are very useful to plants. They include boron (B), copper (Cu), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), molybdenum (Mo), zinc (Zn), nickel (Ni) and chloride (Cl). The proportion and quantity of macro and micro nutrients altogether refer to the soil health. To overcome declining output resulting from decreasing soil fertility and productivity, farmers need to improve their production techniques. The decision to participate in new agricultural technologies depends on farmer's perception which is a key determinant in influencing adoption (Negatu & Parikh, 1999; Adesina & Baidu-Forson, 1995) [6,1] . Technology adoption is also influenced by perceived profitability, costs of the technology and clarity at which the new knowledge and information is communicated in a recipient population Boahene et al (1999) [3] . Farmers' perceptions regarding compatibility of sustainable practices with their farming systems have emerged as the best predictor of adoption of such practices Alonge and Martin (1995) [2] . Since perception refers to an individual's current appraisal of an object or program, assessing farmers' perceptions is an important means to evaluate their knowledge level on a particular issue Hikson and Keith (2000) [5] . People base their perceptions on past experience and knowledge thus; if a person has limited knowledge and experience about a technology then he cannot accurately perceive it or form an opinion on it. Hence, understanding farmers' perception towards soil health practices is essential for effective extension planning. Keeping these aspects in view, the present study entitled "Farmers' perception towards use of soil health practices for crop production in Hingoli District of Maharashtra State" was undertaken.

Methodology

The study was conducted during the year 2024-25 in www.extensionjournal.com Hingoli district of the Marathawada region of Maharashtra State. The district comprises five blocks namely Hingoli, Kalamnuri, Sengaon, Aundha Nagnath, and Vasmat. Among these, Sengaon block was purposively selected as the Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Hingoli implemented the Oilseed Model Village Programme in this block. Hatala and Takoda villages of Sengaon block were selected purposively where farmers had received training and demonstrations on soil health practices. Thus, a total of 70 farmers were selected purposively as respondents for present study. Data were collected through a well-structured and pre-tested interview schedule covering socio-economic characteristics and perception towards soil health practices. Collected data were tabulated and analyzed using frequency, percentage and appropriate classification methods. The results indicated that 67.14 percent of the farmers belonged to the middle-age group 36-54 years. Regarding education, 42.85 percent of the respondents had education up to middle school level. A majority 61.42% of respondents belonged to the medium annual income category. More than half of the respondents 54.28% had a medium level of sources of information, while 61.42% showed medium scientific orientation. Similarly, 55.71% of respondents exhibited medium economic motivation. These findings indicate that most farmers had moderate exposure to agricultural information and scientific practices, which influences their perception towards soil health practices. The statement-wise perception of farmers regarding soil testing is presented in Table 2. The findings revealed that 84.28 percent of the respondents strongly agreed that soil testing is the first step towards proper soil fertility management. About 61.42 percent agreed that the benefits of soil testing motivate nearby farmers to adopt soil testing. The overall perception of farmers regarding soil testing is presented in Table 3. The results showed that 70.00% of respondents had a medium level of perception regarding soil testing, while 15.71% & 14.28% of respondents had high and low levels of perception, respectively. These findings suggest that although farmers recognize the importance of soil testing, there remains scope for improving their understanding and confidence through continuous extension efforts.

Results and Discussion

Conclusion

The study on farmers' perception towards use of soil health practices for crop production in Hingoli district revealed important insights into farmers' awareness and attitudes towards soil health management. The farmers from Hatala and Takoda villages of Sengaon block demonstrated a generally favourable perception towards soil health practices, mainly due to continuous training, demonstrations, and awareness programmes conducted under the oilseed model village programme of Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Hingoli. The findings indicate that farmers increasingly recognize soil health as a foundation for sustainable crop production, improved productivity, and long-term soil fertility. The level of perception was closely associated with exposure to training, access to information, and ease of understanding soil test recommendations. Farmers with greater interaction with Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Hingoli activities perceived soil testing and soil healthbased nutrient management as more economical, beneficial, and environmentally safe. The study further highlights the need for continuous follow-up, practical demonstrations, and handholding support to ensure effective adoption of soil health practices. While, promotion of regular soil testing, balanced nutrient application, micronutrient use, organic matter management, and corrective measures for problematic soils should be strengthened. Overall, the study concludes that strengthening extension interventions and enhancing farmers' knowledge are essential for promoting soil health-based agriculture and ensuring long-term agricultural sustainability in Hingoli district.

Overall, the

References

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