DETERMINANTS OF ADOPTION IN REGARD TO RECOMMENDED CULTIVATION PRACTICES OF RICE Oryza sativa AND MAIZE Zea mays IN THE STATE OF NAGALAND

Abstract

Agriculture is considered as the backbone of Nagalandand#8223;s economy where newlinethe majority of the population depends on agriculture. Major variants of cereals newlineproduced in Nagaland are rice, maize and millet. The two methods of cultivation among newlinethe Naga tribes are jhum and terrace cultivation which makes about 86 per cent of the newlinetotal cultivable area in Nagaland. Emphasis on improving the production and newlineproductivity of agriculture is crucial to bridge the gap between the demand and supply newlineof food grains. The present study on Determinants of adoption in regard to newlinerecommended cultivation practices of rice (Oryza sativa) and maize (Zea mays) in newlineNagaland was carried out in the state of Nagaland. The objectives of the study were newlinemeasure the extent of adoption in regard to recommended cultivation practices of rice newlineand maize in Nagaland, find out determinants of adoption of rice and maize production newlinetechnology, identify the constraints faced by the farmers while adopting recommended newlinecultivation practices, solicit suggestions from the research scientists, development newlineworkers and policy makers on measures for enhancing the production and productivity newlineof rice and maize in Nagaland and develop a strategy to increase the rate of adoption of newlinerecommended rice and maize production technology. Thestudywastakenupinsixdistricts newlineof Nagalandwithasamplesizeof 300farmers.Eighteenindependentvariables viz., age, newlinegender, education, family type, family size, occupation, operational land holding, annual newlineincome, farming experience, social participation, information sources utilization, newlineextension contact, cosmopoliteness, innovativeness, economic motivation, scientific newlineorientation, achievement motivation and attitude towards shifting newlinecultivationwithextentof newlineadoptionasdependentvariableswerestudied.Therespondentswereinterviewedpersonally newlinewith the help of structuredinterviewschedule.Thedatacollectedwerecoded, tabulated and newlineanalyzed usingfrequency, percentage, mean, standard deviation, co-efficient of variance, newlineKarl Pearsonand#8223;s co-efficient of correlation..