Farmers ’Empowerment Through Participatory on-farm Trials in Rainfed Rice Ecosystem of Koderma, Jharkhand

A study was undertaken to assess the impact of farmers ’participatory on-farm trials on Integrated Crop Management (ICM) technology on the knowledge level of rice growers under rainfed, rice based cropping system in Koderma district of Jharkhand. The knowledge level of the farmers was measured on three major parameters of ICM viz., a) improved crop management practices, b) improved pest management practices, and c) improved weed and rodent management practices. The findings of study indicates that there were remarkable change in the knowledge level and attitude of the rice growing farmers in all the three aspects of ICM after conducting the on-farm trials (OFTs). The mean knowledge level of the farmers was increased from 28.00% (pre-exposure) to 88.00% (after exposure) to OFTs which indicates a significant change of 60.0% in the overall knowledge level of the farmers about ICM.