Strategies for Accelerated Adoption of Improved Farm Technologies and Allied Enterprises for Income Enhancement

The present study was conducted in Jagraon block of Ludhiana district of Punjab during the year 2014 to analyse the adoption of improved farm technologies and allied enterprises by the farmers. A sample of 210 farmers was selected, representing all the farm size categories in a cluster of four villages. The data were collected with the help of structured interview schedule. It was found that agriculture in these villages was characterised by small land holdings with prevalence of rice-wheat cropping system with lesser adoption of subsidiary enterprises and over dependence on farm mechanisation. Strategies for adoption of recommended farm technologies and allied enterprises include the intensification of extension activities supported with institutional credit, creating marketing and agro-processing facilities. Integrated farming system is advocated as an option for income enhancement of marginal and small farmers. Rural unemployed youth should be imparted vocational trainings to facilitate adoption of allied farm enterprises. Marginal and small farmers must be encouraged to use farm machinery on custom hiring basis to curtail the input costs.