Assessment of adoption patterns of recommended maize production technology among Nicra village maize growers in Malda district of West Bengal

Abstract:

Maize (Zea mays L.) has evolved into a strategic asset for the Indian agricultural economy, serving as a versatile staple for food, poultry feed, and industrial applications. Despite a significant expansion in acreage across West Bengal, a persistent productivity gap remains a challenge. This deficit is primarily driven by the sub-optimal adoption of scientific production technologies and climate-resilient practices. To address this, an investigation was conducted within the National Innovations on Climate Resilient Agriculture (NICRA) framework to evaluate adoption patterns and socio-economic determinants among farmers in the Malda district.The study utilized a descriptive-analytical design under the technical supervision of the Malda Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK). A multi-stage purposive sampling technique was applied to 70 respondents across two NICRA-adopted villages: Ramayanpur and Paschim Narayanpur. Data were synthesized through structured, pre-tested interviews and analysed using descriptive statistics to provide a clear picture of the regional agricultural landscape.

The demographic profile reveals a farming community in transition, characterized by a mix of high literacy and significant resource constraints:

A critical finding of the study is the marked disparity between the adoption of physical inputs and technical "know-how." While farmers are increasingly utilizing modern inputs, there is a profound awareness gap regarding scientific management:

The demographic and socioeconomic profile of the surveyed group reveals a mean age of 41.67 years, with 32.85% of the participants having achieved a graduate level of education or above. On average, these individuals possess 14.17 years of farming experience.

In terms of agricultural assets, Marginal Farmers represent the primary landholding class, accounting for 50.00% of the group, while the average landholding size is 7.62 bigha. Economically, the respondents report a mean annual income of ₹123,428.57. Furthermore, the data indicates a heavy reliance on traditional infrastructure, with shallow wells serving as the primary irrigation source for 74.29% of the farmers.

Input Adoption: Adoption of improved/hybrid seeds stands at 62.86%, followed by recommended sowing/spacing (52.86%) and soil testing (51.43%).

Technical Awareness: Approximately 87.14% of respondents reported a lack of comprehensive knowledge regarding the full suite of recommended technologies.

Management Gaps: Adoption of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) remains strikingly low at 12.86%, and only 30.00% of farmers utilize digital or mobile advisory services.

Mechanization: Only 38.57% have transitioned to mechanized farming, largely due to the high capital investment required for marginal landholdings.

While the attitude toward modern technology is generally positive 80% of respondents noted increased yields—economic disparities remain a significant hurdle. Roughly 26% of farmers did not experience a proportional increase in net income despite higher productivity, likely due to market imperfections and rising input costs. This "Knowledge-Action Gap" suggests that many farmers adopt inputs based on market availability or peer influence rather than formal technical training.

To bridge these gaps, future extension strategies must prioritize the following:

Strengthening IPM awareness through localized, practical demonstrations, improving access to institutional credit and subsidies to help marginal farmers adopt high-cost mechanization, expanding digital literacy to better leverage mobile advisory services for real-time decision-making, addressing input delivery mechanisms to ensure that yield gains translate directly into higher profitability for the grower.