Extent of Adoption of Recommended Hybrid Castors Cultivation Technology by the Castor Growers

Oilseed crops occupy an important place in Indian economy next to food grains. India ranks first in the world in respect of area, production and productivity of castor crop during 2009–2010 as 8.59 lack hectares areas, 11.90 lack tones production and 1385 kg/ha productivity (Anon., 2011a). Castor being one of the important oilseed crop in Sabarkantha district. The area under hybrid castor in this district was 1, 47, 425 hectares with a production about 1, 25, 700 Metric tones and productivity of 1712 kg/ha during 2010–2011 (Anon., 2011). But the harvested yield of castor crop in the research station was recorded as 2230 to 3000 kg/ha. The study was conducted in three talukas of Sabarkantha districts in the year 2011–12. The majority of castor growers were found in medium level of category with respect to age (57.50%), land holding (89.17%), annual income (59.17%), extension contact (58.33%), sources of information (69.17%), economic motivation (70.83%), scientific orientation (67.50%), risk preference (76.66%) and level of knowledge (69.17%). Further, The majority (62.50%) of castor growers were educated from primary to secondary school, (64.17%) were having tube-well irrigation facility, (90%) were having membership in social organization and (80%) were having medium to high level of innovativeness. Majority of the castor growers (67.50%) were having medium level of adoption of recommended hybrid castor cultivation technology. The results of correlation analysis indicated that out of 13 independent variables, eleven independent variables viz.; education, land holding, annual income, social participation, extension contact, sources of information, economic motivation, scientific orientation, Risk preference, innovativeness and knowledge level were found positively and significantly correlated with extent of adoption of recommended hybrid castor cultivation technology by the castor growers.