A Study on Farmers Knowledge and Challenges with Direct Seeded Rice under the Rice-Wheat Cropping System in Eastern Uttar Pradesh, India

Aim: To create awareness among the farmers about Direct seeded rice (DSR) which is resource-intensive technology to create a substitute of rice planting in Rice wheat cropping system.

Study Design: Survey method.

Place and Duration of Study: Krishi Vigyan Kendra (ICAR-IIVR) conducted training programs on dry-direct seeded of rice amongst the farming community in Deoria District, Uttar Pradesh, from Kharif 2010 to 2019.

Methodology: The study area of this new technology was undertaken by using a comprehensive questionnaire through a field survey of farmers who had adopted DSR during 2010 to 2019 in five blocks viz. Bhatparrani, Bhatni, Bankata, Salempur and Lar. Five villages were selected from each block and 6 dry-direct seeded of rice practicing farmers were selected purposively for this study.

Results: The research found that the majority of the respondents agreed that the potential advantages of direct seeded of rice technology must include cost savings (97.33 percent) followed by 96 percent of respondents are agreed that no need of puddling in direct seeded of rice technology followed by no need of seed bed preparation (94.66 percent) and 94 percent respondents are agreed with direct seeded of rice being a water wise technology, provides the solution, direct seeded of rice saves labor as it avoids nursery raising, uprooting seedlings, transplanting, and puddling (92 percent); 91.33 percent of respondents agreed that the total variable costs of rice were lower in direct seeded of rice (DSR) than in puddled transplanted rice (PTR). The main technical challenges most respondents experienced weed management is major problem 93.33 percent, Non availability of the quality seed and drill machine for direct sowing of rice (89.33 percent). The most effective training and educational barriers were a Lack of communication between the farming communities by the mass media agencies (82 percent), lack of awareness of the farming community regarding calibration of direct seeded of rice machine (74.66 percent). Lack of the cooperation between fellow farming community to share their experiences on direct seeded of rice (88 percent), community pressure (72.66 percent), higher cost of seed drill machine (79.33 percent) and Lack of awareness of farmer about minor adjustments of machine (85.33 percent) were also mentioned as significant constraints under the categories of socio-psychological economic and extension, respectively.

Conclusion: Direct seeded of rice is a desirable choice when the future of rice production is in jeopardy due to worldwide water constraint and rising labour costs.