Adoption Status of Improved Paddy Varieties and Fertilizer Use in Moga District of Punjab

Paddy is a major food crop having significance for millions of farmers. It is grown under paddy-wheat cropping system on a vast area in India. In Punjab state continuous need is felt to increase area under short duration (SD) paddy varieties for better crop yield and to save irrigation water. Thus, adoption of these SD varieties and optimal fertilizer use are major factors that can contribute to enhanced paddy productivity in short time span. The present study was carried out in district Moga of Punjab state for five consecutive years i.e., 2017-18 to 2021-22 using the interview method for data collection from 30 respondents from each of the five blocks of the district. Analysis revealed that paddy cultivation is diversified in the district as basmati and non-basmati types along with different varieties that are being cultivated here. The area under recommended varieties has increased significantly among non-basmati paddy, unrecommended long duration variety Pusa 44 is the most preferred throughout the study period followed by Dogar Pusa due to high yield. SD varieties occupy only about 18 per cent paddy area. Only about 2 to 4 per cent of the total paddy area was transplanted before 10th of June each year except during 2020-21 Covid 19 pandemic period. Further, excessive use of fertilizer-Nitrogen by farmers in the form of urea was observed. A rise in the proportion of farmers (69% to 73%) in a span of five years which discontinued the practice of applying phosphorus to the paddy crop was also observed. The data on adoption status may help the extension agencies to focus on bridging the gap to enhance the yield of paddy and basmati and thus, income of farmers along with conservation of natural resources.