Knowledge and Advantages of Adoption of Straw Baler among Farmers in Haryana

Description

Page: 189-193

Jatesh Kathpalia¹, Rashmi Tyagi², Anil Kumar Saroha³, and Rijul Sihag⁴ (Department of Sociology, CCSHAU, Hisar, Haryana¹,²,⁴ and Department of FMPE, CCSHAU, Hisar, Haryana³)

Crop Residue Management Options can be classified as in-situ and ex-situ management options. Baling and transporting straw from the field is a feasible ex-situ option when alternate, effective, and economically viable usage methods are identified and facilities and infrastructure are created. Straw baler is one of the most effective farm machines being adopted by the farmers for bailing the leftover crop residue in the fields. To know the advantages and knowledge of farmers regarding Straw baler, a study was carried out in the Kaithal district of Haryana state among 80 adopter farmers. It was found that 52.50 percent had a medium level of knowledge while 30 percent of the respondents had a low level of knowledge and the rest 17.50 percent of the respondents exhibited a high level of knowledge. Age, education, subsidiary occupation, size of landholdings, annual income, social participation, mass media exposure and socio-economic status were significantly associated with the level of knowledge among respondents. Cent percent of the respondents had the knowledge that Baler technology is used for compacting and baler various agricultural materials, such as paddy straw, wheat straw, or sugarcane trash. A significant majority of respondents (85%) agreed that using a baler makes handling hay/straw more convenient. Respondents reported that using a baler saves time for sowing the next crop (81.25%).