Farmers’ Receptivity to Coconut Production Technologies: A Study Across Different Root (Wilt) Disease Intensity Regions of Kerala State
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Date
2002
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Abstract
Contribution of Kerala State to the production of coconut at national level is on the decline. The productivity level remained low in the state compared to many other states. Low level of technology utilization is often attributed for the low productivity. The incidence of root(wi1t) disease, a debilitating disease which inflicts considerable economic loss to coconut growers is observed in varying degrees of intensity across various regions in the State. A study was carried out to assess the extent of utilization of coconut production technologies by farmers across different disease intensity regions in Kerala State. The study was conducted among 600 coconut growers in three districts of Kerala State, viz., Kozhikode, Emakulm and Thiruvananthapuram which represent the disease free, high disease intensity and mild disease intensity regions. A three stage random sampling design was adopted for the study. The results revealed that the extent of utilization of recommended technologies by coconut growers vary between different disease intensity regions. Farmers receptivity to coconut production technologies ranged from low to medium level. Technologies such as basin opening and application of organic manures were the most commonly adopted practices. Plant protection, spacing for optimum plant density and cultivation of hybridhigh yielding varieties were the items of low level of adoption. Applications of chemical fertilizers, irrigation, intercultural operations, interlmixed cropping and mixed farming were having medium level of adoption. The present level of farmers response to coconut production technologies thus calls for streamlining strategies to initiate farmer participatory research/extension programmes for evolving technologies appropriate to different agroclimatic regions.
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Proceedings of Placrosym XV (2002): 723-731