Factors Influencing Adoption of Precision Farming Technologies in Watermelon Cultivation
S. Sangeetha *
Horticultural College and Research Institute for Women, Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu, India.
K. Parameswari
Agricultural College and Research Institute, Kudumiyanmalai, Pudukottai District, Tamil Nadu, India.
V. Dhanushkodi
Anbil Dharmalingam Agricultural College and Research Institute, Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu, India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) is one of the important fruit crops cultivating in India. Adoption improved production technologies in watermelon cultivation is not followed by majority of the farmers. Tamil Nadu Irrigated Agriculture Modernization and Water Bodies Restoration and Management (TN IAMWARM) is a unique World Bank funded project implemented with the prime motive of increasing the productivity of irrigated agriculture in the state of Tamil Nadu. Accordingly the TNIAMWARM project was implemented in Villupuram district through Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Tindivanam with one of the interventions that dissemination of precision farming technologies in watermelon cultivation to improve its productivity. The present study analysed the factors influencing adoption of Precision farming technologies in Watermelon cultivation. Most of the respondents gave first preference to the higher yield (Mean score - 72.2) as their reason of adoption of precision farming technologies in tomato cultivation followed by yield increase, provision of subsidy. Under external factors, the respondents gave first rank to TNAU scientists (Mean score - 79.42) as the influencer to adopt the precision farming technologies in watermelon cultivation. Further, the respondents expressed that the influence of executing TNIAMWARM project (79.25) exerted some compulsion on them which was deemed as a social factor in the adoption of Precision Farming technologies.
Keywords: Watermelon, precision farming, IAMWARM, Nallavur sub basin