Knowledge and adoption of micronutrients application by cotton growers and constraints faced by them

The present study was conducted in Vidarbha region of Maharashtra with sample size of 120 cotton growers from 12 villages of each Deoli, Wardha and seloo tahsils of Wardha district to find out knowledge and adoption of micronutrients application among beneficiaries and non-beneficiaries of the Rajya Purskrut Ekatmik Kapus Yojna. The findings of the study revealed that 58.33 per cent of the beneficiaries and 68.33 per cent micronutrients non-beneficiaries had medium level of knowledge regarding application of micronutrients. Majority of the micronutrient’s beneficiaries (56.67%) had medium level of adoption of micronutrients application. The overall knowledge of micronutrient’s beneficiaries (Mean knowledge score =72.38) was more as compared to micronutrient’s non-beneficiaries (Mean knowledge score =35.58) in cotton cultivation. In case of adoption, The overall Adoption of micronutrient’s beneficiaries (Mean adoption score= 63.75) was more as compared to micronutrient’s non-beneficiaries (Mean adoption score = 6.75) in cotton cultivation. The problems suggested by the majority of beneficiaries were: 90.00 per cent of micronutrients beneficiaries were having low price for cotton in market, high cost of micronutrients (88.33%), high wages of labour for spraying (81.67%), Inadequate and timely availability of recommended micronutrients (76.67%) and Lack of knowledge about fertilizer management (41.67%). Majority (96.67%) of micronutrients nonbeneficiaries Lack of knowledge about fertilizer management, low price for cotton in market (86.67%), High cost of micronutrients (88.33%), Inadequate source of finance (80.00%) and Lack of knowledge about appropriate stage and doses of micronutrients application (73.33%).