Technology adoption and yield gap analysis of major foodgrain crops in western Maharashtra

Abstract

The present study was undertaken to study level of technology adoption and yield gap analysis of foodgrain production viz; rabi Sorghum, Soybean and Gram. Three major foodgrain crops from the western Maharashtra region viz; rabi Sorghum, Soybean and Gram were selected on the basis of important crop from cereals, oilseeds and pulses of the region. Three districts from western Maharashtra region viz., Solapur (rabi Sorghum), Sangli (Soybean) and Ahmednagar (Gram) were selected on the basis of maximum area under the respective crop. In rabi Sorghum the extent of technology viz; spacing was adopted by maximum 92.63 per cent cultivators at the overall level. It was due to maintain the plant population. About, 85.48 per cent cultivators used the recommended variety. It was due to the good grain and fodder yield of recommended university improved varieties of rabi Sorghum. It was also found that, at overall level 80.58 per cent cultivators adopted protected irrigation. In Soybean, at the overall level 91.49 per cent cultivators were adopted recommended variety viz; Phule Kalyani and JS 335. About, 85.95 per cent cultivators used the recommended spacing and were followed by preparation of land 63.09 per cent. The highest 87.55 per cent technology adoption of Gram at overall level was observed in use of recommended variety and was followed by spacing 85.94 per cent and seed rate 71.54 per cent. Only 18.71 per cent of the cultivators were used recommended manure and 21.63 per cent of the cultivators were used recommended plant protection.In rabi Sorghum, Soybean and Gram the total yield gap was in the range of 21.66 to 40.27, 06.68 to 35.77 and 27.86 to 46.71 per cent respectively. It indicates that, the total yield gap was maximum in Gram crop was followed by rabi Sorghum and Soybean among the different level of adoption.