Impact of radio on transfer of potato technology*

The net, overall, gain in knowledge on potato among the listeners of ‘Potato School on AIR’ from Shimla was found to be 8.1 per cent. It ranged from 0.11 to 12.8 per cent for different components of potato cultivation technology. The gain was highest (12.8%) in storage technology followed by interculture operations and earthing-up (12.0%) and lowest in sowing time and method. It was significant at 1% in seed and seed rate, interculture operations, fertilizer application, pest and disease control, harvesting and storage.

Radio was found to be source of information for 87.9% farmer, 64 percent farmers preferred panel discussion over straight talks on radio. More than 95 per cent farmers listened to all or almost all talks on potato. Four out of every five farmers perceived the language used by the scientists in the broadcast to be simple and easily understandable. More than two-thirds (68%) perceived the coverage to be adequate and complete, 74.7% respondents found the massage of immediate utility.