Technology Adoption in the Wheat Crop of Western Maharashtra

The use of new agricultural technology varies widely from farmer to farmer even in the same village. The total impact of all the components of the new agricultural technology taken together would be reflected in the level of yield obtained due to non-adoption or partially adoption. The study has been undertaken considering the need, availability and the area under wheat crop in Western Maharashtra. The method of PCA has been used to develop indices for technology adoption to know the impact in case of the wheat production alongwith the contribution of each component of technology in wheat production. Out of 319wheat cultivators 43.57, 55.49 and 0.94 percent were categorized in low, medium and high adoption group, respectively. The recommended technologies properly adopted by low and medium adoption groups were soil type, sowing time, sowing method and seed rate for the wheat production. The Preparatory tillage (8.78percent), time of sowing (8.71 percent), seed treatment (15.33 percent), improved variety (7.21 percent), nutrient management (40.90percent) and growth stage-wise irrigation management (13.55percent) were the major contributing technologies in the wheat productivity have explained 85.77 percent contribution in wheat productivity. The major recommended technologies including preparatory tillage (1 ploughing, 1 harrowing), time of sowing(15^th Oct. to 15^th Nov.), improved varieties, seed treatment (Capton/Thirum 3 g/kg, Azotobactor 250 g/10 kg with 250 g PSB, Deltamethrin 2.8 percent liquid 4 ml or Lufemiron 5percent liquid 10 ml), application of nitrogen, phosphorus and potash (120, 60 and 40 kg ha⁻¹, respectively) and growth stage-wise irrigation management (1. 18–21, 2. 40–45, 3. 60-65and 4. 80–85 days after sowing)influenced the wheat productivity to the extent of 85.77 per cent. Hence, these technologies are widely popularized among the farmers to achieve the potential wheat yield.