Determinants in adoption of direct seeding of rice (DSR) in Punjab state
- Agricultural Situation in India
- 79(6), Sep, 2023: p.8-16
Considering sustainable agriculture as the keystone of Punjab's social and economic prosperity, promotion of direct seeding of rice (DSR) has been one of the pioneer steps in this regard in the Punjab Government's 2023-24 Budget. Inspite of an incentive Rs. 1500 per acre, DSR has been adopted by only about 30000 famers covering 84.9 thousand hectares (only about 3 percent of the total area under paddy during 2021-22). With this consideration, the present study was carried out in Punjab state during 2021-22 to highlight the constraints faced by the DSR adopters and determinants of its speedy adoption. It was found that poor seed germination and pitiable crop establishment followed by heavy rain immediately after sowing were the main reasons of ploughing back the DSR. Data related to adoption of practices recommended by PAU revealed that most of the farmers followed the recommendation, i.e. seed treatment, recommended date of sowing and recommended machinery for sowing. Results of binomial regression analysis indicated that among 7 statistically signicant factors affecting adoption of the DSR, one percent rise in the availability of direct seeding implements, extension contacts and DSR trainings increased the adoption level by 33, 23 and 20 percent, respectively, while with increase in age it declined by 2 percent. High transplanting cost for human labour, expert advice and non availability of required implements were the major hurdles in adopting DSR by the adopters while easily available labour for transplanting paddy, lack of technical knowledge, difdence in adopting DSR and non-availability of required implements were the major reasons of non-adoption. Study suggested the need to generate more awareness of recommended DSR production practices; capacity building by educating/training; timely availability of required farm implements on custom hiring basis; auxiliary research and development efforts for large scale adoption of the DSR. – Reproduced