THESIS ABSTRACT

a) Title of the thesis: Assessment of rice-maize cropping system for socio-

economic upliftment of farm families
b Full Name of the Student: Lokesh Ahirwar
)
c) Major Subject: Agricultural Extension
d Name and Address of the Dr. M. A. Khan
) Major Advisor Associate Professor
Deptt. Of Agril. Extension, IGKV,
Raipur
e) Degree to be Awarded: M.Sc. in Agriculture (Agricultural
Extension

Signature of the Student

Signature of Major Advisor

Date: Signature of Head of the Department

ABSTRACT
The present study was carried out during 2016-17 in the Durg district of
Chhattisgarh state. This study aims to assess rice-maize cropping system for socio-
economic upliftment of farm families. This study was conducted in purposively
selected 12 villages of Patan, Dhamdha and Durg blocks with sample comprised of
120 respondents. The data collection was made through personal interview using
interview schedule The collected data were analyzed with the help of suitable
statistical methods and tools. The findings of the study shows that majority of
respondents falls under age group of 34 to 54 years, belonged to Other Backward
Class, educated up to primary school, residing with up to 5 family members, having
membership of more than one social organization, and possessed up to 10 years of
farming experience. All of the respondents were doing agriculture and majority of

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them were practicing it as main occupation and obtained maximum share of family
income from agriculture mostly in the range of Rs. 1.51 to 2.0 Lakh. The study area
dominated with farmers having small to medium size of land holding. Vertisols cover
maximum area. Majority of the respondents acquired credit from cooperative society
for purchasing the agricultural inputs.
All of the respondents had irrigation availability by using tube well. It was
observed that in kharif, rabi and summer seasons largest area were occupied by rice,
maize and summer rice, respectively. Higher percentage of the respondents adopted
rice-maize/wheat, rice-maize/chickpea and rice-maize cropping systems respectively.
The average cropping intensity was about 200 per cent. Majority of the respondents
were using Cooperative society for selling of rice and Wholesaler/agents for selling of
maize. Neighbour, friends, relatives and extension professionals were the major source
of information for rice and maize production technology. Scientific and risk orientation
was mostly found at middle level.
Analysis of practice wise level of knowledge and adoption towards recommended
rice crop shows that majority of the respondents had medium level of knowledge and
adoption towards sowing methods, selection of variety, application of manure
fertilizer, water management, weed management, insect management and disease
management. Regarding analysis of practice wise level of knowledge and adoption
towards recommended practices for maize crop shows that majority of the respondents
had medium level of knowledge and adoption towards selection of seeds, application
of manure fertilizer, water management, weed management, insect management, time
of harvesting and method of cutting. All of the respondents were using sun drying as a
method of drying and regarding use of straw higher percentage of the respondents
were using it for mulching in the field.
Majority of them were practicing rice cultivation with the labour requirement in the
range of 36 to 45 labour mandays/ha. Regarding maize crop, majority of them were
practicing with the labour requirement in the range of 15 to 25 labour mandays /ha.
The findings pertaining to average yield of major crops in the study area shows that
rice was grown by all the respondents and its average yield was found 39.03 q/ha. It
was found that maize was also grown by all the selected respondents in rabi season

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and its average yield in the study area was found 49.71 q/ha. The findings towards
system productivity (REY) of different cropping systems reveals that under rice-
maize/wheat-vegetables system, 5.83 per cent of the respondents obtained highest
system productivity 128.2 q/ha.
The data regarding socio-economic status revealed that most (36.66%) of the
respondents were falls under upper middle class. About 26.16 per cent of the
respondents belong to middle class, followed by 26.66 per cent were found in upper
class.
With regards to correlation analysis, out of all sixteen selected variables, cropping
intensity, knowledge and adoption about rice and maize production were found to have
positive and significantly correlated with system productivity as well as socio-
economic status of respondents. Similarly education, farming experience, annual
income etc. total ten variables significantly associated with socio-economic status.
The results of multiple regression analysis reveals that, in case of system
productivity six variables namely knowledge and adoption about rice and maize
production technology and land holding contributed positively and significantly
towards system productivity as well as socio-economic status of the respondents.
Among the several constraints, higher percentage of the respondents reported
about labour problem, problem of rodents and wild animals, interrupted electricity
supply, less contact to extension officer, lack of specific machine for maize cultivation,
high rate of interest from Kisan Credit Card after expire of credit due month. To
overcome the above constraints, majority of the respondents suggested for increased
minimum support price of rice, regular and timely supply of quality of inputs, un-
interrupted electricity supply and proper extension support.

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