Adoption Level of Farmers towards Organic Farming Practices in Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh, India

Abstract

This study explores the extent of adoption of organic farming practices among farmers in the Jhansi district of Uttar Pradesh. It investigates the relationship between selected socio-economic characteristics and the level of adoption. Using an exploratory and ex post facto research design, a total of 100 respondents were selected randomly from 10 villages in the Gursarai block. Data were collected through a structured interview schedule covering Integrated Plant Nutrient Management (IPNM) and Integrated Pest Management (IPM) practices. The findings revealed that 47.00 per cent of respondents had a medium level of adoption, 30.00 per cent had low, and 24.00 per cent had high adoption of organic practices. Among IPNM practices, application of FYM/Nadep compost, seed inoculation, and crop residue incorporation showed the highest adoption levels, while practices such as amrit sanjivani, amrit pani, and neem khali were among the least adopted. In IPM, summer ploughing, hand weeding, and neem leaf extract were the most commonly adopted, whereas biopesticides like HaNPV and tobacco decoction had low adoption levels. Correlation analysis demonstrated that factors such as mass media exposure, extension participation, scientific orientation, economic motivation, and cosmopoliteness were significantly and positively associated with higher adoption levels. Education, training, and exposure to demonstrations also had a positive but less strong correlation. These findings suggest that adoption is not merely a function of availability but is significantly shaped by information access and personal orientation. The study underscores the importance of strengthening extension services and farmer capacity building to enhance the uptake of organic farming practices in the region.