Adoption and socio-economic benefits of improved post-rainy sorghum production technology

Abstract

Low remuneration and adoption of sorghum production technologies were among the major constraints for drastic reduction in its cultivation. Therefore, evaluation of production potential, adoption, economic and other benefits of the technologies in social perspectives of the farmers was felt essential. The study was conducted with 200 adopted farmers under field trials organized during five years from 2009-10 to 2013-14 in five districts in two prominent sorghum growing regions in Maharashtra State of India. The yield potential and merits was measured by following before and after method, and data were collected through semi-structured interview schedule. The performance of the demonstrated technologies was resulted into increased in adoption (27%), higher net returns (170%), followed by grain yield (58%) with better quality (78%) and fodder yield (26%), and found to be significantly positive over the pre-FLD. It enabled to motivate farmers and increase in area under sorghum by 29 per cent. Furthermore, the additional returns helped them in spending significantly higher on purchase of household items (111%) followed by, on attending more social functions (109%), purchase of animals (91%), in start of new business (86%), deposit in bank (77%) and investment in farm development activities (62%).