The study was conducted with the objective to appraise the knowledge and extent of adoption pattern of recommended organic manures in Chittoor district of Andhra Pradesh to find out the relationship between the socio-economic factors with knowledge and adoption levels and to identify the constraints/reasons and suggesting measures for increasing the adoption levels of farmers. The results are based on an interview conducted among 125 farmers in Chittoor district of Andhra Pradesh. The findings revealed that cent per cent (100%) farmers had good knowledge, but only 67.5–72.5% farmers had fully adopted the technologies like farm yard manure (FYM) and tank silt application due to availability, cheaper in rates and also due to certain programme implemented by Government of Andhra Pradesh. 70–100% of farmers had nil knowledge and non-adopted the practices like seri residue composting, biofertilizers, VAM and PSB. Knowledge and adoption on/in preparation and use of panchagavya is very negligible (1.5%). The lack of credit facilities (75%), lack of technical guidance (74%), non-availability of organic fertilizers in time (67%), etc. were the main constraints/reasons for partial/non-adoption of the above practices. The variables such as education, extension contact, social participation, cattle population and cocoon yield were positive and significantly associated, whereas age, family size and experience of respondents had shown negative relationship with knowledge and adoption levels.
Adoption, Constraints, Knowledge, Organic farming, Socio-economic factors
