Adoption of drought management practices by farmers: a critical analysis

Abstract

To assess the awareness and adoption of the recommended drought management practices for rice and coconut, a study was undertaken in Palaghat district of Kerala State. The independent variables taken were age, education, size of holding, annual income, risk orientation, economic motivation, scientific orientation, knowledge about recommended drought management practices for coconut, awareness about the drought-proneness of crops, knowledge about parameters of drought and extent of adoption of recommended drought management practices for rice and coconut. The dependant variables were extent of adoption of recommended drought management practices for rice and coconut. Results revealed that majority of the farmers were going for the cultivation of short duration varieties in the case of rice and mulching in the case of coconut to tide over the drought situation. Majority of the farmers belonged to medium group in the case of knowledge about drought management practices for rice and coconut and adoption of drought managenent practices in rice and coconut cultivation. Majority of the farmers used seed at 100 kg/ha in the case of rice and mulching In the case of coconut. None of the farmers adopted application of 34 kg each of NPR/ha in the case of rice. Only 28 per cent adopted husk burial practice in their coconut gardens. Only very few respondents adopted drip irrigation practice. The results of the correlation analysis showed that size of holding, knowledge aibout recommended drought management practices for coconut and extent of adoption of recommended drought management practices for coconut were positively and significantly correlated with the extent of adoption of recommended drought management practices for rice, while size of holding, annual income, knowledge about recommended drought management practices for coconut and extent of adoption of recommended drought management practices for rice were positively and significantly correlated with extent of adoption of recommended drought management practices for coconut. Majority of the farmers belonged to medium group with respect to their awareness about the drought-proneness of crops and knowledge about parameters of drought. Results of path-analysis showed maximum positive direct effect was found contributed by 'size of holding' in the case of adoption of drought management practices for rice and' annual income' in the case of adoption of drought management practices for coconut. Lack of knowledge about technology, lack of finance and non-availability of inputs/equipment were considered as the major constraints in the adoption of drought management practices for rice and coconut.