Attitude of the Adopters and Non-adopters towards Inter-cropping in Areca Nut Plantation in Ri-Bhoi District of Meghalaya

Abstract

Background: Attitudes are learned, emotionally, predisposition to react in a consistent way, favourable or unfavourable to the situation of inter-cropping practices. The purposed of this finding was to find out the attitude of the adopter and non-adopter of inter-cropping in areca nut plantation in Ri-Bhoi District of Meghalaya. It is important to study the attitude of the respondents towards the inter-cropping practices as this can help to understand the reason behind the adoption or non-adoption of the practices in the study area. This study also helped in determining the relationship between the attitude and the socio-economic characteristics of the respondents. Methods: This field survey was done during the year 2017 to 2019. Ex-Post Facto research design was used for this study. The sample study was selected through multistage sampling method in the selected study area of the respondents. Number of respondents was selected using a simple random method by using computer aided random selection based on the criteria of practicing areca nut plantation and those who practiced both areca nut plus inter-cropping. A survey of 310 adopters and 310 non-adopters of areca nut plantation were selected for the study. Collection of primary data was done using an interview schedule and appropriate statistical tools were used for interpretation of the data. Independent variables included in this were gender, age, marital status, educational level and type of house, family size, family type, social category, and annual income. Result: Based on the study it was observed that the attitude of the adopters and the non-adopters of Ri-Bhoi district were found to be favourable towards the inter-cropping practices but the attitudinal level among them were found to have been different based on some factors. The adopters were having most favourable attitude than the non-adopters. The findings of this study led to the conclusion that the attitudes of adopters and non-adopters differ depending on their educational status, annual income, land size and so on. The findings of this study can be used by the government to assist farmers in any way possible, so that non-adopters can also adopt inter-cropping practices because, according to the study, they have a favourable attitude toward this practice, but they require government assistance.