On-farm evaluation and adoption of improved sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas) cultivation among tribal farmers in Koraput region of Odisha, India

Abstract

A study was conducted at Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Semiliguda in Koraput district of Odisha from
2010-2014 to evaluate the performance of sweet potato varieties Kishan and ST-14 on farmers'
field. Front line demonstrations (FLD) were conducted with scientific package of sweet potato
cultivation under rainfed conditions. The increase in yield under demonstrations was in the range
from 44-57% for the varieties Kishan and 19-23% in ST-14, respectively over local cultivars. An
extension gap ranging from 56-68 q/ha and 23-28 q/ha in yield was perceived between FLD and
Farmers' Practice (FP) throughout years for variety Kishan and ST-14, respectively. The average
technology gap of total 60 FLD's for tested varieties was 74 and 53 q/ha for Kishan and ST-14,
respectively; which is 32 and 40% of variety's potential yield. Mean values of three years incites
that Kishan variety noted more net returns (` 37,496) in comparison to ST-14 (` 30,070). Adoption
data signposts that recommended practices like adoption of HYV's, vine cuttings preparation,
nutrient management and pest management were adopted by the respondents mediocrely; with
adoption quotient of 69.4, 60.0, 69.2 and 63.3, respectively. The study concludes that with a meager
incremental increase in cost of cultivation (` 1563-2000/ha) small and marginal farmers can fetch
higher net profits of ` 30, 000 -35,000/ha.