Farmers’ Adoption of Finger Millet Production Technologies and the Impact on Finger Millet Yields

Abstract

Low remuneration and poor adoption of Finger millet [Eleusine coracana] production technologies were major constraints in yield gap in finger millet. Therefore, evaluation of production potential, adoption, economic and other benefits of the technologies in social perspectives of the farmers was undertaken. The study was conducted in two districts of Karnataka, India where the frontline demonstrations programme organized during the five years from 2017-18 to 2021-22 in 200 farmers’ fields. The knowledge, adoption and impact were measured by following before and after method, and data was collected through survey, focussed group discussion and personal interview methods. The demonstrated technologies resulted into increase in Knowledge over pre demo in use of high yielding variety (85%) followed by use of nitrogen (Urea) (62%), seed treatment (62%), use of FYM (56 %).  Increase in adoption over pre demo was found in use of high yielding variety 82 % followed by use of nitrogen (62%), seed treatment (55%), use of FYM (48%). The higher adoption of the demonstrated technologies (71%) by the farmers in Karnataka led to higher grains production (33%) with better quality (65%) and fodder yield by 38% over pre-FLD stage. The increased yields not only enabled them to obtain higher net returns (55%) and incremental increase of benefit-cost ratio (25%) but also motivated to increase in area under finger millet (20%) significantly than the pre-FLD stage. Whereas, very low increase in cost of production (10%) over the pre-FLD stage was observed. Age, education, family size, annual income, institutional support, extension contact, herd size, and utility of grain and fodder were found to be significant in explaining the variation in their adoption level of demonstrated finger millet production technologies. Among the constraints, availability of labour, wild animals (deer and wild boar) and availability of seed are the major production constraints and price fluctuation, limited quantity purchases by government, delay in payment by government, and high commission from APMC are the major market constraints. To boost-up the adoption, large family size of the farmers, their dependency on farming and continuing newly selected farmers with field demonstration of location-specific low-cost technologies up to five years should be considered.