“ADOPTION OF NO-COST AND LOW-COST TECHNOLOGIES OF WATERSHED MANAGEMENT BY TRIBAL FARMERS” A THESIS SUBMITTED TO ANAND AGRICULTURAL UNIVERSITY IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE AWARD OF DEGREE OF Master of Science (AGRICULTURE) IN AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION BY PATEL NIRMALKUMAR G. B.Sc. (Agri.) DEPARTMENT OF EXTENSION EDUCATION B.A. COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE ANAND AGRICULTURAL UNIVERSITY ANAND-388 110 2013 PA Registration No. 04–1620-2011 PA TE “ADOPTION OF NO-COST AND LOW-COST TE L L NIR TECHNOLOGIES OF WATERSHED MANAGEMENT BY NIR MA TRIBAL FARMERS” MA LK LK UM UM AR AR G. G. M.S M.S c. c. (Ag (Ag ri.) ri.) AG AG RIC RIC UL UL TU BY TU RA PATEL NIRMALKUMAR G. RA L B.Sc. (Agri.) L EX EX TE TE NSI NSI ON ON 201 201 3 3 DEPARTMENT OF EXTENSION EDUCATION B.A. COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE ANAND AGRICULTURAL UNIVERSITY ANAND-388 110 2013 Registration No. 04–1620-2011 ADOPTION OF LOW-COST AND NO-COST TECHNOLOGIES OF WATERSHED MANAGEMENT BY TRIBAL FARMERS OF PANCHMAHALS DISTRICT OF GUJARAT STATE Name of the Student Major Advisor N. G. Patel Dr. J. B. Patel DEPARTMENT OF EXTENSION EDUCATION, B. A. COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE, ANAND AGRICULTURAL UNIVERSITY, ANAND ABSTRACT Farming in India largely depends upon vagaries of monsoon causing dwindling in the production. Now a day’s Watershed Management is a new avenue for developing the Rainfed areas. Government has launched ambitious watershed management activities for development of rainfed areas started science from July 1986, covering 16 states and 99 districts of Gujarat state as a new trust to improve village economy with an objective of to promote holistic growth of the agricultural and allied sector through area based regionally different strategies; to increase and stabilize the agricultural production and narrowing down regional socio-economic imbalance in rainfed areas through development of natural resource base, diversify the rainfed farming system, tapping the local resource ……………………………………………………………………..Abstr act potential to attain higher productivity and services for improving standard of living of rural poor and tribal. The present study is carried out to find up to what extent tribal farmers had adoption of low-cost and no-cost technologies of watershed management. For generating information on this dimension, this study is the modest attempt in developing sound and systematic knowledge. Keeping in view above facts present study entitled “Adoption of low-cost and no-cost technologies of watershed management by tribal farmers” was planned with specific objectives: OBJECTIVES 1. To study the profile of tribal farmers. 2. To know the level of knowledge regarding no-cost and low-cost technologies of watershed management. 3. To study the extent of adoption regarding no-cost and low-cost watershed management technologies. 4. To ascertain the relationship between profile of tribal farmer and extent of knowledge and adoption of no-cost and low-cost watershed management technologies. 2 ……………………………………………………………………..Abstr act 5. To study the constraints faced by tribal farmers in adoption of no-cost and low-cost watershed management technologies. 6. To seek the suggestions from tribal farmers to overcome the constraints faced by them. Methodology The present study was conducted in three tribal talukas of Panchmahals district in Gujarat State. Important and relevant low- cost and no-cost technologies of watershed management in two major areas of technologies (I) Soil and water conservation technologies, and (II) Crop production technologies were selected under study through expert opinion. With the help of random sampling method four villages were selected from each of selected tribal taluka. From each selected village, ten tribal farmers were randomly selected which constituted a total sample size of 120 tribal respondents. The data were collected with the help of well structured pre- tested interview schedule incorporating all items pertaining to specific objectives of the study. The independent variables were measured with the help of appropriate scales used by other researcher with some modification. The dependent variable was measured by developing adoption index with the help of structure schedule developed by researched. The collection data were complied, tabulated and analyzed 3 ……………………………………………………………………..Abstr act to get proper answer for specific objectives of the study with the help of various statistical tools to test the hypothesis under study. The statistical tools such as arbitrary method, percentage, and mean, co- efficient of correlation were used. The important findings of the study are summarized as under: MAJOR FINDINGS The important findings of the study are summarized as under: 1. Less than half (46.66 per cent) of the tribal farmers belonged to the age group of 36 to 50 years. 2. Less than two-fifth (37.50 per cent) of the tribal farmers were illiterate. 3. Great majority (81.68 per cent) of the tribal farmers had low level of experience in farming. 4. Slightly less than half (47.50 per cent) of the tribal farmers had membership in two organization in case of social participation. 5. Slightly more than half (56.67 per cent) of the tribal farmer were trained. 6. Slightly more than one third (33.33 per cent) of the tribal farmers had medium level of mass media exposure. 7. Less than half (40.84 per cent) of the tribal farmers had very high level of extension contact. 8. Slightly more than two third (67.50 per cent) of the tribal farmers were dependent on farming with animal husbandry. 9. Slightly more than half (52.50 per cent) of the tribal farmers were found with small size of land holding. 4 ……………………………………………………………………..Abstr act 10. Slightly more than half (55.83 per cent) of the tribal farmers came under very low level of annual income. 11. Slightly less than half (45.83 per cent) of the tribal farmers had high level of scientific orientation. 12. Slightly less than half (45.83 per cent) of the tribal farmers had medium level of overall knowledge about no-cost and low-cost technologies of watershed management. 13. Slightly more than half (52.50 per cent) of the tribal farmers had medium level of overall adoption about no-cost and low-cost technologies of watershed management. 14. Independent variables studies viz., Only age of tribal farmers had negative and significant correlation with adoption whereas, rest of the variables like education, farming experience, social participation and training received, mass media exposure, extension contact, occupation, land holding, annual income and scientific orientation which positive and significantly correlated with adoption of no-cost and low-cost technologies of watershed management. 15. Less subsidy, lack of knowledge about soil and water conservation technology, construction of field bund is costly, lack of technical guidance and lack of finance were the major problems faced by tribal farmers in case of soil and water conservation technology. While, in case of crop production technology lack of knowledge about recommended crop 5 ……………………………………………………………………..Abstr act production technology, low market price of agricultural products, lack of technical guidance, lack of finance to purchase inputs and high cost of farm inputs were the major problems expressed by tribal farmers in adoption of no-cost and low-cost technologies of watershed management. 16. Tribal farmers of study area suggested that; field demonstrations should be organized, loan and subsidy should be easily available, remunerative market prices of agricultural products should be provided to the farmers, farmers should be protected by crop insurance in case of failure of season and more training should be imparted to the farmers. 6 ANAND AGRICULTURAL UNIVERSITY B. A. COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE ANAND - 388 110 CERTIFICATE “ This is to certify that the thesis entitled Adoption of no- cost and low-cost technologies of watershed management by tribal farmers” submitted by Mr. Nirmalkumar G. Patel (Reg. No. 04-1620-2011) in partial fulfillment of requirements for the award of the degree of Master of Science in Agriculture in the subject of Agricultural Extension of the Anand Agricultural University is a record of bonafide research work carried out by him under my guidance and supervision and the thesis has not previously formed the basis for the award of any degree, diploma or other similar title. Place: Anand Date: /09/2013