Happy Seeder Technology in Punjab: A Discriminant Analysis

Abstract

Decline and deterioration of natural resources (NRs) has emerged as a serious concern for sustainable agriculture. Optimization of NRs, inputs, and diversification/intensification of cropping system through conservation agriculture (CA) has been identified as the immediate as well as long-term solution to achieve goals of sustaining productivity. For promoting CA, continuous research affords resulted into machine called Happy Seeder. Happy Seeder enables straw management without burning and its retention in the field enhances the soil fertility and crop productivity. Omitting cultivation operations of land preparation on account of zero-till reduce the cost of cultivation. Therefore, the study would unravel the resource use patterns on conservation agriculture vis-a-vis traditional farming practices in the state. Further, study would examine the factors that differentiate the adopters of Happy Seeder Technology. The results highlighted that the usage of Happy Seeder Technology enhanced both crop productivity as well as the profitability to the farmers along with being water efficient technique. Discriminant analysis highlighted that optimum doses of DAP and effective utilization of human labour at the sowing stage caused yield improvement within the adopters of HST.