Adoption of Turmeric Cultivation Practices by Turmeric Growers

Background: Maharashtra state in India ranks sixth in area under turmeric cultivation and Sangli, Hingoli, Nanded, Parbhani, Chandrapur are the major turmeric growing districts of Maharashtra. Recently since last few years the area under turmeric crop of Washim district in Vidarbha region is increasing day by day. In Washim district of Maharashtra state, the area and production of turmeric is 1150 ha. and 23000 tones, with productivity 20 tones per hectare. There is great potential to increase production of this crop in future, if growers are oriented towards entrepreneurship and adoption of modern technology. Hence the present study was undertaken to study the adoption level of turmeric growers about recommended turmeric cultivation practices. Methods: The study was conducted in Washim district of Maharashtra state with the objective to study the adoption of the recommended turmeric cultivation practices by the turmeric growers. Exploratory research design of social research was used. In all, 120 respondents from 12 villages of Malegaon and Risod tehsils from Washim district were selected by random sampling method. The data were collected by person interview method. Result: Findings of the study revealed that, majority of respondents of turmeric growers (63.33%) having medium level of adoption about turmeric cultivation practices followed by 27.5 per cent of the respondents were found low level of adoption and only 9.16 per cent of the respondents were found in high level of adoption category. The selected characteristics of turmeric growers i.e. Land holding, area under turmeric crop, annual income, scientific orientation and knowledge had positive and significant relationship at 0.01 per cent level of probability with adoption. Whereas, farming experience found negative significant relationship at 0.01, per cent level of probability with adoption of turmeric growers. Age, education, source of irrigation had positive and non-significant relationship with adoption level. While only extension contact had positive and significant relation at 0.05 per cent level of probability with their adoption.