Adoption Level and Constraints of Soybean Production Technology in Sagar District of Madhya Pradesh

Soybean is a major crop grown during the kharif or monsoon season (July-October) in the dry land areas of central and peninsular India. Madhya Pradesh is known as major soybean producer of India, comprising 55 per cent of the total national area of soybean cultivation. Higher soybean production can be achieved by adoption of all the recommended production technologies by large number of farmers. This study was conducted during 2008–09 in five villages of district Sagar of Vindhyan Pleatue Agro-climatic zone of Madhya Pradesh. The overall adoption level of respondents on soybean cultivation was assessed and findings revealed that most of the respondents had medium level of adoption (45.00 per cent) followed by low (37.00 per cent) and higher (18.00 per cent). The practice wise data collected for the extent of adoption of recommended soybean cultivation practices revealed that only 25 per cent farmers ploughed their field as recommended, 10 per cent farmers were adopted deep summer ploughing, non-descriptive varieties was adopted by 65 per cent of the farmers, 11 per cent of respondents had adopted the recommended seed rate in their cultivation, 82 per cent farmers were sown their crop in recommended time, 45 per cent farmer had opted the recommended method of sowing, 32 per cent farmers adopted recommended intercropping, seed treatment with fungicide was adopted by the 60 per cent of the farmers, 25 per cent farmers had adopted seed inoculation with PSB, 92 per cent farmers were using imbalanced dose of fertilizer, 2 per cent of the farmers applied the recommended need based irrigation and proper drainage, 70 per cent farmers were adopted recommended herbicide as a chemical weed control measure while 25 per cent farmers were applied manual weed management, 90 per cent farmers followed plant protection measures as chemical control, 8 per cent farmers were adopted plant protection practices below than the recommendation and 2 per cent were adopted as recommended major IPM components. The maximum soybean growers were facing hindrances in the production technology due to unavailability and no use of suitable high yielding varieties in time (85 per cent). Heavy weed infestation ranked as the second most important constraints by 78 per cent of respondents. High incidence of pest and diseases were an important constraint mentioned by 65 per cent of the respondents. The soybean cultivators reported that potential yield of the crop was not achieved due to high cost of input materials and high cost of wages. Lack of awareness and knowledge about certain technological interventions were the major constraints perceived by 83 per cent of respondents. Lack of conviction in new technologies was also expressed by 75 per cent of the respondents. Weak extension activities at village level were reported by 62 per cent of the respondents and major agro climatic constraints i.e. erratic rain fall received during growth period perceived by 88 per cent of the respondents, which resulted in poor seed setting and low yield in the crop. In other agro climatic constraints, 73 per cent respondents prioritized the disease and pest incidence due to high humidity and poor soil fertility was realized by 60 per cent respondents.