Assessment of Constraints Affecting the Adoption of Recommended Rice Production Technologies among Rice Growers in Karnal District of Haryana, India
Abstract
Rice (Oryza sativa L.) is a staple food crop of paramount importance to food security in India, yet its productivity remains constrained by a complex interplay of technical, economic and marketing barriers at the farm level. The present study was undertaken to identify, analyse and rank the key constraints affecting the adoption of recommended rice production technologies among smallholder farmers in Karnal district, Haryana. A multi-stage sampling design was employed, in which three blocks (Karnal, Gharaunda and Nilokheri) were selected on the basis of their relatively low rice productivity. Five villages were selected from each block, resulting in a total of fifteen villages. Subsequently, ten rice growers were selected from each village, yielding a total sample of 150 respondents. Primary data were collected from the respondents using a structured interview schedule. The findings revealed that inadequate awareness of scientific recommendations (Garrett Mean Score = 62.4) was the most important technical constraint. High labour costs and the scarcity of local agricultural labour (71.8) constituted the leading economic constraint, whereas price fluctuations and inadequate realisation of the Minimum Support Price (MSP) (Garrett Mean Score = 64.2) constituted the major marketing constraint. Among the suggested measures, subsidies for farm machinery through Custom Hiring Centres (70.8) received the highest economic priority; strengthening agricultural extension services through regular training programmes and field demonstrations (69.5) was the leading technical suggestion; and ensuring effective MSP implementation with timely procurement (69.0) was the principal marketing suggestion. The study recommends strengthening extension services, improving access to quality inputs, promoting farm mechanisation and enhancing market-support systems to improve the adoption of recommended rice production technologies.