Vol. 10, Special Issue 10 (2021)

Author(s):
A Ruhela, J Singh and HN Singh

Abstract:
Rice is the major crop and the central plains of Chhattisgarh are known as Rice bowl of central India. Under present study four districts have been selected, namely Bilaspur, Durg, Raipur and Rajnandgaon. In Rajnandgaon two blocks Rajnandgaon and were selected. In Rajnandgaon block two villages Haldi and Surgee and, Arjunda village from Gonderdal block was selected to conduct survey. Two villages namely: Malud and Mahamara were selected from Nakpura and Durg blocks in district Durg. Similarly, three villages Janjra, Devri and Kopra from Fingeswer block of Raipur district was selected to conduct socioeconomic survey. In district Bilaspur Bilha block was identified in which Sendari, Kechar and Dhabipara villages were selected for the above cited purpose. From each district cooperator-farmers were selected, as in Rajnandgaon 29 farmers, in Durg 18 farmers, in Raipur 29 farmers and in Bilaspur 30 farmers. A total of 106 cooperator farmers were surveyed. 85% of area is comes under irrigated land out of total aerable portion and the major sources of irrigation are electric operated shallow tube wells and canals. The area under tube well and canal irrigated lands are 204 ha and 96 ha, respectively. It occupies about 90% (274 ha) and 92% (283 ha) area to total cropped area in kharif season and 50.6% (155.2 ha) and 49.9% (153.10 ha) area in rabi season in 2012-13 and 2014-15, respectively. Another important crop is tomato which occupies 3.3% (10.1 ha) and 3.9% (12.1 ha) in the year 2012-13 and 2014-15, respectively on sample farms. In kharif rice, use of potash increased significantly by 262.42% while the doses of nitrogen and phosphorus is reduced by 23% and 19%, respectively in assessment year over the base year. However, total nutrient use has been increased by 16% in the referred period. In rabi rice the use of potash fertilizer increased by 170.2% in the corresponding period and the doses of nitrogen and phosphoric nutrients have decreased by 30% and 24.46%, respectively. It shows that the farmers are using higher doses of potash after they have gained knowledge and education about its significances from the PFL project activity.