Assessment of potential of short duration pulses for diversification of rice-wheat system in central plain zone of Uttar Pradesh

Crop diversification through short duration pulses has been considered as one of the important options, which can help in reversing the process of system degradation and can deliver many agronomic and ecological benefits simultaneously, while maintaining or enhancing the scale of efficiency of production. Short duration pulses (mungbean and urdbean) are the most common pulse crops, which can be grown in summer to utilize the gap between wheat and rice crop. The Bhagya nagar block in Auraiya district of Uttar Pradesh was purposively selected for the study during 2008. A sample of 80 respondents was selected from two villages viz., Barmupur and Kuthrra. From each village, 20 resource rich and 20 resource poor farmers were selected and data were collected with the help of pretested interview schedule. The factors and present variables analysis was used in order to diversification of rice-wheat system through short duration pulses. The study revealed that factors like training, demonstrations, seed production programme at village level would be effective extension approach whereas private seed shop, availability of quality seed, technical information will boost short duration pulses for diversification of rice-wheat system in both the categories. The present variables like level of awareness and risk orientation were found medium towards short duration pulses in both the categories whereas economic motivation and positive attitude were found higher in relation to cultivation of short duration pulses in both the categories. Therefore, it can be concluded that linkages among research institutions, farmers, seed certification agency and private seed companies are required for popularization of short duration pulses for diversification and sustainability of rice-wheat system.