Appraisal of Adoption Constraints and Impact of KVK Interventions in Poplar Based Agroforestry System

Poplar is a widely adopted agroforestry tree in North India, especially in the state of Punjab. The present study was undertaken to analyse constraints in adoption of improved poplar based- agroforestry practices in the Ropar district of Punjab and the impact of KVK interventions on knowledge and adoption of improved poplar production technologies. The constraint analysis revealed that the major constraints are the fluctuation in market price (RBQ=90.40) which often remains towards the lower side, low sale price of produce (RBQ=83.80), difficulty in cultivation of intercrops (RBQ=75.20) and yield reduction of intercrops (RBQ=73.20) under different categories of constraints. Based on the constraints, extension activities were undertaken to popularize improved technologies of poplar based agroforestry system, which resulted in the increase in knowledge and adoption of the improved cultivation technologies by 54.3 and 40.0 per cent, respectively. The overall impact of interventions by Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Ropar was also studied, which showed higher knowledge and adoption of recommended cultivation practices after the KVK intervention.