An Analysis of Farm-Level Adoption of Improved Potato Production Technologies in Western Uttar Pradesh

The adoption of improved potato technologies is vital for increasing potato productivity and farmers' income. Thus, this study attemptedto analyse the farm level adoption of improved potato technologies and also to identify the adoption constraints faced by farmers. The survey was conducted in Bulandshahar and Meerut districts of Uttar Pradesh by interviewing 85 randomly selected potato growers. The results revealed that there was very low adoption of some technologies and majority of farmers have medium level of adoption, which could be improved by organizing various extension activities like trainings, demonstrations, etc. There was very high incidence and intensity of adoption of improved varieties in the study locales; however, larger area was under old varieties, which should be replaced by new varieties that give higher yields and market demands. Government should take measures to ensure regular supply of quality seeds at prices affordable by all farmers' categories, since majority of farmers obtained seeds from non-reliable sources. Finally, the study recommended that emphasis should be put more on serious constraints like lack of credit, subsidy and trainings, high cost/unavailability of labor, production inputs and quality seeds, heavy incidence of diseases and insects, low market price and price fluctuation, for speedy dissemination and adoption of improved potato production technologies.