An Empirical Investigation of Farmer's Perception and Attitude Towards Soil Health Testing in Punjab

The study aims to understand the perception and attitude of farmers towards Soil Health Testing (SHT) in Punjab. The primary data were collected from 240 farmers, 80 from each of the three cropping belts of Punjab viz. cotton belt, paddy belt and vegetable belt selected on proportionate sampling basis through a structured non disguised questionnaire. Sixty farmers who did not get SHT done were also surveyed to understand the reasons for their non adoption of SHT. The study revealed that the majority of the farmers got soil health testing done randomly from state agricultural university. ie, PAU or KVK's. The major source of information about SHT was neighbours, progressive farmers, television, kisangoshthis and melas. Famers had a positive perception of the SHT and were aware of the benefits of it. They felt that crop yield increased by monitoring soil nutrient status by testing. Overall they were satisfied with soil health testing. The major constraints faced were the inadequate follow up by the extension agency and unscientific methods of collecting soil samples. The farmers who were not getting soil heath testing done said that even without it they were getting the full yield of crops and even other farmers who got SHT were not benefitted much, hence testing was not required.