Knowledge of farmers about improved production technologies of cumin (Cuminum cyminum L )

Abstract

Cumin is a major seed spice crop of Rabi season in Ajmer district of Rajasthan. Area, production and
productivity of cumin crop in Ajmer district is 7588 ha., 2335 tonnes and 295 kg ha-1, respectively in the year
2010-11. The productivity of cumin is comparatively low in Ajmer district (295 kg ha-1) than other cumin
cultivated districts such as Dungarpur(500 kg ha-1) , Nagaur(455 kg ha-1), Pali(452 kg ha-1) and Jodhpur (436
kg ha-1). The Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Ajmer (Raj.) is playing a vital role in transfer of technologies among the
farming community by way of organizing specialized skill oriented on and off-campus trainings,
demonstrations, farmers scientist interaction, on-farm trials, field days and kisan-gosthies since 16 years.
The Krishi Vigyan Kendra Ajmer has carried out on farm testing on cumin to exhibit latest production
technologies and compared it with farmer’s practice. In current study an attempt has been made to measure
the knowledge of farmers about improved production technologies of cumin. Two Panchayat samities viz,
Pisangan is peripheral while Kekri is distantly located from Krishi Vigyan Kendra & NRCSS were selected for
study. Five villages from these two panchayat samities were randomly selected. Ten cumin growers were
selected randomly from each identified village. Thus, the total 100 respondents (50 farmers from peripheral
panchayat samiti and 50 farmers from distant panchayat samiti) were selected for the present investigation.
The results indicated that majority of periphery farmers found in medium to high knowledge group, whereas,
majority of distant farmers were having low to medium level of knowledge regarding improved cumin
production technology. . The mean percent scores of periphery farmers varied from 34.00 to 96.66, while in
case of distant farmers the mean percent scores varied from 22.00 to 92.00. Further the data revealed that
highest difference in knowledge level of periphery and distant farmers was observed in fertilizer application
followed by seed rate and spacing and seed treatment. Study revealed that level of knowledge of periphery
farmers about different aspects of cumin production technologies was higher than distant farmers ranging
from 4.66 MPS of time of sowing to 28.40 MPS of fertilizer application.