Analytical report on the adoption of recommended package of practices by potato growers in sub-tropical zone of Jammu division

Potato is one of the major vegetable crops and is a wholesome food, consumed by all sections of the people throughout the globe. The state of Jammu and Kashmir with potato area of 5650 ha registered production during 2010, thereby presenting productivity per unit area 1.53–16.0 MT/ha as compared to national average. The wide difference in the productivity levels against the world average is governed by a large number of factors, influencing the yield either directly or indirectly. The present study was conducted in Jammu Division of Jammu and Kashmir, the northernmost state of India. Selection of different districts in Jammu division was purposively based on their acreage in potato area. In Jammu district, sub-divisions like Marh and R.S. Pura and likewise in Samba and Kathua districts, Samba and Dayalachak were taken under study. Among each sub-division, fifteen villages, based on the maximum acreage under potato crop, were selected by proportionate allocation method. Further from each target village, 15 potato growers were selected making a total sample size of 225 growers. The findings revealed that majority of the respondents in all the target groups were cultivating recommended varieties of potato but seed rate and size (whole tuber sowing) were not used as per the recommendation.