Adoption Status of Improved Rice Varieties and Fertilizer Use in Sri Muktsar Sahib District of Punjab

Rice is major food crop having significance for millions of farmers. It is grown under rice wheat cropping system on vast area in the Indo- Gangetic Plains (IGPs) of India. In Punjab state continuous need was felt to increase area under short duration recommended rice varieties for better crop yield and to save irrigation water. Adoption of these short duration recommended varieties and optimal fertilizer use are major factors that can contribute to enhanced rice productivity in short time span. Periodic data collected from 340 farmers from 2013–14 to 2017–2018 revealed that extent of adoption of improved rice and basmati varieties increased during the survey period. Majority of the farmers were applying excessive fertilizer-N doses to rice crops. Large number of farmers skips phosphorus application to rice and basmati and majority (78%) did not apply potash fertilizers. The data on adoption status may help the extension agencies to focus on bridging the gap to enhance yield of rice and basmati and thus, income of farmers along with conservation of natural resources.