TECHNOLOGICAL GAP IN RECOMMENDED CULTIVATION PRACTICES OF TOMATO IN WEST JAINTIA HILLS DISTRICT OF MEGHALAYA

The research was conducted in West Jaintia Hills District of Meghalaya. The personal interview method was used for collection of data with the help of pre-tested interview schedule. The major objective of the research was to study the technological gap in recommended cultivation practices of tomato. Relationship between socio-economic profile of the tomato growers and their overall technological gap was also observed. The study revealed that majority (70.83%) of the tomato growing farmers belonged to medium technological gap followed by low technological gap (15.83%) and high technological gap (13.34%). Further it revealed that the highest gap was observed in plant protection measures(46.11%) and ranked I followed by fertilizer application (42.78%), weed control (41.39%), seed rate (38.33%), improved varieties (37.78%), irrigation management (37.22%) with ranked II, III, IV, V, VI, respectively. It was observed that the technological gap was decreasing with increasing education, annual income, extension contact and mass media exposure. Hence, effort should be made by the extension personnel as well as Government to conduct training and demonstration and also to increase the education facility and information sources to minimize the technological gap. Regular visit of village extension workers need to be strengthened to raise their technical competency, especially in the field where farmers have great problems.