1Department of Agricultural Economics, College of Agriculture, UAS, Dharwad-580 005, Karnataka.
We have benefited from the comments of the anonymous referee.
This paper is an attempt to estimate the magnitudes of yield gaps, causative factors and constrains for attaining greater farm potential in rabi sorghum production in Karnataka. Primary data were collected from 80 sample farms using the multistage random sampling technique. Data collected during 1996–97 were analysed using the IRRI methodology on yield gaps, path coefficient and tabular analyses. Results of the study revealed a magnitude of a total yield gap of 1454.20 kg/ha, which comprised of relatively higher yield gap-I (1013.47 kg/ha) than yield gap-II (441.06 kg/ha). Farmers realised 58.83 per cent of potential yield and 69.78 per cent of potential farm yield. Path coefficient analysis showed that sub optimal use of plant nutrients, human labour and bullock labour on farmers' field vis-á-vis demonstration plots were the major factors conditioning yield gap. Sub-standard and costly chemical fertilizer and plant nutrients, labor shortage, non-availability of desired variety seed, unfavorable climatic conditions and incidence of pest and diseases limited sorghum productivity on farmers' fields.
