Farmers’ Perception Towards Pigeon Pea Cultivation as an Alternate To Bt-Cotton In South-western Punjab

Farmers’ perception towards pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan L.) introduced in the area as an alternate for Btcotton was assessed through yield gap and economic analysis. The magnitude of yield gap and related causes for pigeon pea vary substantially, that depends upon perception of farmers towards the technology demonstrated. Yield gap analysis for pigeon pea and Bt-Cotton was performed against crop genetic potential and average yield at district, state and national level. Grain yield of pigeon pea (variety AL-201) varied between 5.8 and 8.8 q ha⁻¹ (mean=7.5 q ha⁻¹). Seed cotton yield varied between 16.3 and 22.0 q ha⁻¹(mean=17.8 q ha⁻¹). Results revealed that average yield gap assessed against yield potential for pigeon pea was 53.3%, compared with only 25.2% for Bt-Cotton. Yield gap estimated against national average was however of lower magnitude for pigeon pea (3.8%). Estimation of yield gap against state average further recapitulates the similar trend indicating yield gap of 18.5%. Conversely, the pigeon pea grain yield was higher by 3.4 q ha⁻¹ when compared with the district average. On the other hand, mean Bt-Cotton seed yield recorded was higher than the national, state and district average. Average net returns for pigeon pea were ` 17.6 X 10<sup>3</sup> ha<sup>1</sup>, compared with Rs. 34.4 X 10<sup>3</sup> ha<sup>−1</sup> for the Bt-Cotton. Economic efficiency was higher for Bt-Cotton (` 201 ha⁻¹ d⁻¹), compared with the pigeon pea (` 124 ha⁻¹ d⁻¹). One half of the sample farmers reported that pigeon pea cultivation has medium level of problem solving ability. More than one half of the respondent (56%) farmers perceived sustainability of pigeon pea cultivation as of medium level. Farmers perceived (56%) pigeon pea as non-practical alternative to Bt-cotton due to lower economic yield. Only 16 per cent of the respondent farmers showed high level of preference toward pigeon pea over Bt-cotton.