Technological gap: An analysis in adoption of Bt cotton practices in Bathinda district, Punjab

Cotton is one of the oldest and most significant commercial crops in terms of global economic, political, and social concerns. Punjab cotton farmers began switching their fields from Non-Bt cotton to Bt cotton. Punjab is being a one of leading state in cotton production, researchers was curious to know the areas of improvement and productivity of Bt Cotton cultivation in the area. The present study was conducted in the Bathinda district of Punjab, as Bathinda is the major cotton-growing district of Punjab. Bathinda district comprises nine blocks, namely Bathinda, Sangat, Nathana, Rampura, Phul, Maur, Goniana, Bhagta Bhaika, and Talwandi Sabo. Out of nine blocks, two blocks were selected randomly. From each selected block, two villages were selected randomly. From each village, 20 respondents were selected randomly to make a sample size of 80 respondents. The results of the study showed that agriculture was the main occupation of the farmers. The average land under Bt cotton was 5.46 and 3.66 acres in Sangat and Talwandi Sabo blocks, respectively. The main three varieties of Bt cotton were grown by the farmers, namely, RCH 773, RCH 776, and RCH 926. The 100 percent technological gap was observed in spacing, quantities of DAP and SSP, dosage of urea, herbicide and pesticide quantities.