Agricultural Economics Research Review
Year : 2012, Volume : 25, Issue : conf
First page : ( 526) Last page : ( 526)
Print ISSN : 0971-3441. Online ISSN : 0974-0279.

Gypsum Distribution System and Farmer's Behaviour in Application of Gypsum for Sodic Land Reclamation

Tripathi R. S., Thimmappa K., Raju R.

Division of Technology Evaluation and Transfer, Central Soil Salinity Research Institute, Karnal – 132 001, Haryana

Online published on 9 October, 2012.

Abstract

The study has evaluated gypsum distribution system and farmer's behaviour in gypsum application to reclaim sodic lands in Haryana. The Government of Haryana supplies gypsum at 50 per cent subsidy to farmers. The study has indicated that most of the farmers are satisfied with the present level of subsidy and the existing distribution system of gypsum. Almost all the farmers agreed that gypsum application has enhanced crop growth, yield and farm income. However, the gypsum dose was determined on the basis of personal observations without getting the soil tested. Though it is recommended that amendment should be applied only once in the field, more than 54 per cent of total farmers applied gypsum 2^nd time, 13 per cent applied 3^rd time and 6 per cent applied 4^th time during 1974–2002. The reason reported for more than one gypsum application in the same field was lower dose of gypsum at the first attempt. An effective and strong extension network is required to educate the farmers on gypsum application for reclamation of soidic soils, which should strictly be based on soil testing. The policy intervention is also required in terms of continuous financial and technical support to resource-poor marginal and small farmers as it has been identified as an effective instrument to accelerate the rate of sodic land reclamation in the state.

Top

Keywords

Gypsum application, sodic land reclamation, Haryana.

Top