Constraints Opined by Paddy and Cotton Cultivation Farmers in Application of Recommended Doses of Chemical Fertilizers in Karnataka (India)

Abstract

Chemical fertilizers have played a vital role in the success of India's Green Revolution and consequent self-reliance in foodgrain production. The increase in fertilizer consumption has contributed significantly to sustainable production of foodgrains in the country. In the Indian context, land is becoming a shrinking resource for agriculture owing to competing demand for its use. Hence, in order to realize the constraints opined by paddy and cotton cultivation farmers in application of recommended doses of fertilizers (RDF) needs to sustain the agricultural production, the result pertaining to this aspect was based on the primary data collected through survey method from paddy and cotton cultivation farmers 120 farmers in Raichur and Yadgiri district during 2015-16. Farmers faced many problems in applying recommended doses of fertilizers in paddy. In case of small farmers, not available in adequate quantity was a major constraint with a mean score of 73.10. The second major constraint was difficulty in calculating NPK ratio as per RDF from the availability of fertilizers bags in the market with a mean score of 65.80 While in case of large farmers, adequate quantity as per RDF not available was a major constraint with a mean score of 76.20. The second major constraint was difficulty in calculating NPK ratio as per RDF from the availability of fertilizers bags in the market with a mean score of 69.80. Similarly, in cotton cultivation by small and large farmers also faced many problems in applying recommended doses of fertilizers, among different constraint, adequate quantity as per RDF not available was a major constraint major constraint.