Understanding Farmers’ Attitudes towards Crop Residue Management Practices in Rajasthan, India

Abstract

Crop residue management (CRM) is an important component of sustainable agriculture due to its role in improving soil health, conserving natural resources, and reducing environmental pollution. The present study assessed farmers' attitudes towards crop residue management practices in the Hyper Arid Partially Irrigated Western Plain Zone (Zone IC) of Rajasthan. A multistage sampling technique was used to select 320 farmers from 16 villages in Bikaner and Churu districts. Primary data were collected using a pre-tested interview schedule, and farmers' attitudes were measured through a standardised 20-statement Likert-type attitude scale with high reliability (0.91). The findings revealed that 69.1 per cent of the respondents had a favourable attitude towards crop residue management practices, while 8.7 per cent exhibited a highly favourable attitude. Farmers strongly agreed that crop residue burning is harmful to human health and the environment and recognised crop residues as valuable resources with economic and environmental benefits. Despite these positive perceptions, inadequate access to residue management machinery, limited extension support, poor awareness of government schemes, and additional time and resource requirements constrained adoption. The study concludes that improving extension services, enhancing access to machinery, and strengthening institutional support are essential to promote wider adoption of sustainable crop residue management practices and climate-resilient agriculture.