Socio-economic determinants of the adoption of improved weed management technologies in rice-wheat system: Evidence from central India

The Rice-Wheat Cropping System (RWCS) is one of the most widely adopted systems by farmers in Punjab, Bihar, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and Madhya Pradesh. Weed menace is a major challenge in this system, limiting production capacity per unit area and causing significant losses to farmers. However, the adoption of Improved Weed Management Technologies (IWMTs) enables farmers to effectively manage weed flora in the RWCS, allowing them to maximize the production potential of their land. The present study aims to offer a social science perspective on IWMT adoption within the rice-wheat system, focusing on identifying the socio-economic determinants influencing farmers’ adoption. Jabalpur and Katni districts in the Madhya Pradesh state were selected for the study, and primary data were collected from a sample of 240 farmers. The major weed flora observed in rice fields included Anagallis arvensis, Cynodon dactylon, Cyperus iria, Cyperus rotundus, Echinochloa colona, Echinochloa crusgalli, and Eclipta alba. In wheat fields, the prominent weeds identified by farmers were Avena fatua, Chenopodium album, Convolvulus arvensis, Cyperus rotundus, Parthenium hysterophorus, and Phalaris minor. The study further revealed that 62% of the surveyed farmers had adopted IWMT, while the remaining 38% had not. Key factors influencing IWMT adoption among farmers included extension contact, participation in improved weed management training, and attendance at IWMT field demonstrations. Shortage of labourers during peak seasons for hand weeding and the absence of skilled workers for herbicide application was identified as the topranked constraints to adoption.