Factors influencing the farm level adoption of flood tolerant rice varieties in the Jorhat District of Assam

Flood is a havoc to farmers, especially rice growers of Assam as sali rice is grown in a season threatened by flood. A field study was conducted in Jorhat district of Assam, which is considered to be the rice bowl of Assam, during the winter season (2016-17) to identify the factors affecting the adoption of the flood tolerant rice varieties. The data were collected from 80 farmers were selected using multistage random sampling technique. Alogit regression model was used to identify the factors influencing farm level adoption of flood tolerant rice varieties. The Results indicated that factors such as education level and extension contact helped in the adoption of-flood tolerant rice varieties. With more educated farmer and more extension contacts, the adoption of flood tolerant rice varieties was found to be increased. Although the coefficient associated with the occupation factor were negative, found non-significant. Awareness and training were needed by the farmers for adoption of flood tolerant rice varieties. More extension agents should be appointed for direct contact with the farmers. This, in turn, would encourage the imparting trainings to the farmers about the benefits of flood tolerant rice varieties would certainly enhance the yield of the flood tolerant rice varieties in the study area and in the state and therefore, it can help to increase the farmers” income.