Introduction
In India, the rural economy primarily hinges on agriculture, livestock, and household activities. Agriculture, the backbone of the nation’s economy, employs between 44-50% of the country’s population and contributes significantly to the GDP, accounting for approximately 18-20% [1-5]. In North Bihar, rice stands as the principal food crop, forming the core of the region’s agricultural practices and providing sustenance to millions of people. Rural farm women play a crucial role in the rice-based farming system, actively participating in a range of activities that generate both employment and income. Their contributions span various roles, from unpaid family labor to paid wage work, either within the household or outside, through the exchange of goods and services. By investing valuable work hours, these women provide essential financial support to their families, highlighting their critical position in the agricultural workforce [6-9].
As noted by [10-14], “The adoption of proven technology by farmers is of utmost importance to change agents, as it directly influences the economic and social benefits to farm women.” Adoption refers to the process by which an individual or decision-making unit starts to implement a new technology or practice. According to [4] adoption is defined as the decision to fully embrace a new idea as the most effective course of action. At the individual farmer level, the adoption of technology is believed to result from how effectively various influencing factors are leveraged. When individuals are exposed to new technology, numerous elements—whether behavioral, psychological, or socio-economic—can either accelerate or hinder the pace and extent of adoption.
Studies conducted in developing countries highlight that these factors often act as barriers to technological adoption in agriculture [15-25]. Therefore, the adoption of any given technology by rural farm women is shaped by a complex interplay of visible and underlying factors. In the case of rice farming, productivity is largely contingent on the degree to which recommended crop production technologies are adopted. Understanding the level of adoption of scientific rice cultivation practices is thus critical for improving productivity, especially in the Samastipur district of North Bihar.
Methodology
The study was conducted in the Samastipur district of North Bihar, which comprises 20 blocks. For this research, two rice-growing blocks were randomly selected. From each of these blocks, two villages were chosen, resulting in a total sample of four villages. To gather data, 40 farm families from each of the selected villages were identified through a proportionate stratified random sampling technique based on their landholdings. This brought the total sample size to 160 participants. Data collection was carried out using a well-structured, pre-tested interview schedule that focused on various key variables of the study. The level of adoption of rice production technologies was measured by categorizing responses into two groups: full adoption and non-adoption of the recommended practices. A score of 1 was assigned for full adoption, while a score of 0 was given for non-adoption, based on the responses to each statement provided to the participants.
Results and Discussion
The yield of paddy is influenced by various factors, including land preparation, ploughing, puddling, use of high-yielding variety seeds, seed treatment, nursery raising, transplanting, integrated nutrient management, integrated pest management, weed control through weedicides, and post-harvest operations. To assess the adoption level of these improved rice production technologies, an attempt was made to measure the extent to which these practices have been implemented by farm families. The results of this assessment are presented in Table 1.
Table 1 illustrates that the highest level of adoption among rural farm women was observed in post-harvest operations (95.62%), followed by transplanting (69.37%), use of high-yielding variety seeds (68.12%), nursery raising (67.50%), and integrated nutrient management (63.75%). Conversely, the lowest adoption levels were seen in land preparation (41.25%), integrated pest management (41.87%), and water management (48.75%). It is evident from the data that farm women primarily adopted technologies that were simpler and better suited to their circumstances. Notably, certain practices such as ploughing and puddling, seed treatment, and chemical weed control measures were not adopted at all by the rural farm women. The data further highlights variation in adoption levels across different categories of rural farm women for various rice production technologies.
For marginal farm women, the highest level of adoption was recorded in post-harvest operations (95.45%), followed by transplanting (69.69%), nursery raising (68.18%), use of high-yielding variety seeds (66.66%), integrated nutrient management (63.63%), water management (50.00%), land preparation (40.90%), and integrated pest management (39.39%). For small farm women, post-harvest operations also showed the highest level of adoption (97.27%), followed by transplanting (70.27%), use of high-yielding variety seeds (67.56%), nursery raising (66.21%), integrated nutrient management (64.86%), water management (50.00%), land preparation (43.24%), and integrated pest management (41.89%). For medium farm women, the highest level of adoption was observed in post-harvest operations (90.00%), followed by the use of high-yielding variety seeds (75.00%), nursery raising (70.00%), transplanting (65.00%), integrated nutrient management (60.00%), integrated pest management (50.00%), water management (40.00%), and land preparation (35.00%).
Ranking of selected practices of rice production technology on the basis of level of adoption
The level of adoption of selected rice production practices was ranked according to the extent of adoption among the three different categories of rural farm women, as well as based on pooled data from both Kalyanpur and Pusa blocks. Table 2 presents the rankings of all selected rice production practices for these categories based on the pooled data. The highest level of adoption was observed in post-harvest operations, which ranked first. The remaining practices were ranked in descending order: transplanting, use of high-yielding variety seeds, nursery raising, integrated nutrient management, water management, integrated pest management, and land preparation.
For marginal farm women, the highest adoption was also found in post-harvest operations, followed by transplanting, nursery raising, use of high-yielding variety seeds, integrated nutrient management, water management, land preparation, and integrated pest management. Similarly, among small farm women, the highest level of adoption was recorded in post-harvest operations, followed by transplanting, use of high-yielding variety seeds, nursery raising, integrated nutrient management, water management, land preparation, and integrated pest management.
For medium farm women, the highest level of adoption was observed in post-harvest operations, followed by the use of high-yielding variety seeds, nursery raising, transplanting, integrated nutrient management, integrated pest management, water management, and land preparation.
However, practices such as chemical weed control and seed treatment techniques require greater emphasis to enhance the knowledge and skills of rural farm women. Adoption rates for practices like post-harvest operations, transplanting, use of high-yielding variety seeds, nursery raising, and integrated nutrient management were significantly higher, exceeding 60%, compared to other rice production practices. Therefore, it can be concluded that technologies perceived as simpler to implement were adopted more quickly by rural farm women.
The adoption of other practices, specifically water management, integrated pest management, and land preparation, among farm women was also low and requires immediate attention to enhance the adoption of these technologies. The lower levels of adoption in these practices are a significant concern. To improve the knowledge and skills of rural farm women, effective skill-oriented training programs should be organized, facilitating their active involvement in rice production technology, it is evident that all three categories of rural farm women exhibit differing overall levels of adoption concerning the eleven selected practices of improved rice production technology.
Conclusion
The study highlights the varying levels of adoption of improved rice production technologies among rural farm women in the Samastipur district of North Bihar. It is evident that while practices such as post-harvest operations, transplanting, and the use of high-yielding variety seeds are widely adopted, critical areas like water management, integrated pest management, and land preparation remain significantly underutilized. The findings suggest that the adoption of agricultural technologies is influenced by the simplicity and applicability of these practices to the local context. To enhance the overall adoption levels, targeted interventions such as skill-oriented training programs are essential. These initiatives can empower rural farm women with the knowledge and skills necessary to effectively implement various agricultural practices. Addressing the gaps in adoption not only benefits the farm women themselves but also contributes to the overall productivity and sustainability of rice production in the region. Future efforts should focus on creating an enabling environment for technology transfer and adoption to maximize the economic and social benefits for rural communities.
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