Adoption and knowledge level of farmers about alfalfa scientific cultivation practices in Eastern Ladakh (UT), India

Abstract

Livestock rearing is one of the major occupations of Chanthang region India and is making significant contribution to the Ladakh’s socioeconomic development.Important role of alfalfa in development of animal husbandry is based on high potential for production of biomass. The study was conducted in eastern Ladakh (India) during 2015-19, due to deficit and scarcity of fodder crops in the region. First part of the study deals with the agronomic and management techniques adopted for cultivation of alfalfa. Second part deals with the adoption and knowledge level of farmers, which was calculated using a questionnaire. Randomly ten villages were selected from eastern Ladakh, in each village, 10 respondents were randomly selected. The study aimed to assess the adoption and knowledge level of alfalfa growers in alfalfa production. Information was obtained with the help of questionnairemethod. The data were analyzed, tabulated and the results were drawn with the help of descriptive statistical methods. The finding of the study revealed that the overall level of Adoption and knowledge of alfalfa production technology was medium. Majority of the farmers (67%) had medium level of knowledge and adoption (60%) of scientific alfalfa cultivation practices. More number of large farmers had high level of knowledge and adoption as compared to medium and small farmers. More awareness programmes should be organized to increase level of knowledge and adoption of cultivation practices to sustain alfalfa production in eastern Ladakh.