Adoption of Direct Seeded Rice Cultivation Technology among Farmers of Haryana - A Sociological Analysis

Rice is the most prominent crop of India since it is the staple food of more than 70 per cent of population of the country. Rice is grown in 18 districts of Haryana. Out of which seven districts are in high productivity group. The study was conducted in Kurukshetra district of Haryana state. From this district, two blocks namely Thanesar and Pehowa were selected randomly. A total of 200 rice growing farmers were selected, who were using direct seeded rice cultivation technology (100) and conventional transplanted rice cultivation technology (100). The findings regarding adoption level of respondents about various aspects of direct seeded rice technology were studied like method of sowing, seed rate, its depth of sowing and its time of sowing etc. It was found nearly half of the respondents, who were using above 70.0 per cent sized of land holdings had high level of adoption of direct seeded rice cultivation technology. Analysis clearly revealed that reasons for adoption of Direct Seeded Rice technology were increased yield than conventional method, reduced work load like labour, water saving from first to subsequent irrigation, higher net returning etc.