Study on Technological Gap and Economic Performance of Sugarcane Growers in Western Uttar Pradesh

Abstract

The present investigation entitled “Study on technological gap and economic performance of sugarcane growers in Western Uttar Pradesh.” with the objectives i.e. To study the socio-economic profile of sugarcane growers, To know the communication behaviour of sugarcane growers, To assess the technological gap of sugarcane growers regarding sugarcane production technology, To assess the economic performance and scientific orientation of sugarcane growers and To find out major constraints in adoption of sugarcane production technology and suggest suitable strategy. In the majority of the respondents were found middle age group of 31-60 years (65.50%), other backward caste (51%), literate (93%), nuclear families (81%), families size of medium category 5-8 members (53%), Pucca houses (91.5%), marginal & small (0-2 ha) land holding (50.5%). It was also observed that the agriculture was the main occupation (84%). The maximum (56.50%) respondents were found no participation in formal organization, 99 per cent respondents had mobile phone (94.50%), respondents were found such who had used the cycle as a transportation facility and khurpi and fawara as a main farm equipments (94.50%) private tube well (73%) earning annual income of Rs. Above 3lakh (29.50%) respectively. The maximum number of respondents (76%) was found in medium level of economic motivation. The majority of the respondents 61.50 per cent mostly meet to neighbours for information about sugarcane cultivation. The majority of the respondents 79.50 per cent were mostly watch television. It was found that the overall (31.19%), of technological gap in sugarcane cultivation. It was observed that the majority of the respondents were medium level economic performance and also medium level scientific orientation by sugarcane growers. The respondents faced the major constraints in adoption of sugarcane production technology i.e. maximum respondents faced constraints high cost involved in land preparation (78%), high cost and scarcity of improved varieties (63.50%), high cost of chemicals for seed treatment (83.50%), High cost of manures and fertilizers (89.50%), high cost of irrigation (61.50%), scarcity of labour and high wage (86.50%), high cost of insecticides and pesticides (88%), need more labours during peak period for ratoon management (79.50%), and delay of supply slips (69.50%), in the study area. The majority of sugarcane growers were suggesting that trainings and demonstration programmes for the identification of harmful and beneficial insects-pests and low cost and quality fertilizers and chemicals and small equipments according to marginal and small farmers should be provided on the government sales centers.