Impact of NICRA Project on Knowledge and Adoption of Sustainable Cabbage Production Technologies: A Study in Sangsangyu Block under Tuensang District of Nagaland, India

Adoption of sustainable production technology plays a crucial role in enhancing agricultural productivity and resilience, particularly in regions vulnerable to climate change. Present study, was conducted to assess the extent of adoption of climate-resilient cabbage farming practices among beneficiary and non-beneficiary farmers of Sangsangyu block, under Tuensang district, where cabbage cultivation is prominent, with a sample of 150 respondents (75 beneficiaries and 75 non-beneficiaries). The socio-economic analysis revealed that beneficiaries had higher educational qualifications, more farming experience, and better income levels than non-beneficiaries. Most beneficiaries were engaged in agriculture as their primary occupation, whereas non-beneficiaries had a higher proportion of individuals involved in non-agricultural activities. The findings on knowledge levels indicated that beneficiaries had significantly higher awareness of sustainable cabbage production technologies compared to non-beneficiaries. For instance, 73.33% of beneficiaries had high knowledge of sustainable spacing, compared to only 44.00% of non-beneficiaries. A similar pattern was observed in areas such as fertilizer application (58.67% vs. 37.33%), mulching and irrigation (69.33% vs. 49.33%), and integrated pest and disease management (57.33% vs. 30.67%). The statistical analysis confirmed these disparities, with the mean knowledge score of beneficiaries (22.84) significantly higher than that of non-beneficiaries (13.42), supported by a t-value significant at the 1% level. Adoption levels of sustainable technologies were also substantially higher among beneficiaries. The majority of NICRA beneficiaries adopted practices such as transplanting at the right stage (89.33%), proper irrigation during head formation (69.33%), and integrated pest management (72.00%), whereas non-beneficiaries lagged significantly behind. Adoption rates for post-harvest measures were also higher among beneficiaries (69.33%) compared to non-beneficiaries (44.00%), emphasizing the role of NICRA in enhancing climate-smart agricultural practices. Further in context sustainability index, social sustainability contributes the highest of about 58.97 per cent. Overall, the study underscores the positive impact of NICRA interventions in promoting climate-resilient cabbage production technologies. Beneficiaries demonstrated higher knowledge, greater adoption rates, and improved agricultural outcomes compared to non-beneficiaries. However, despite the success of NICRA, a considerable knowledge and adoption gap remains among non-beneficiaries, highlighting the need for broader dissemination of climate-resilient technologies. Expanding outreach and extension efforts could significantly enhance the overall adoption of sustainable farming practices, ensuring greater resilience and productivity in cabbage cultivation.