MULTIDIMENSIONAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT OF ZERO TILLAGE TECHNOLOGY

India is the second largest producer of wheat. The country is producing more than seventy
million tons of wheat in about 27 million ha area with productivity of about 2.7 tons per ha.
Wheat is grown in most parts of the country, but nearly 70 per cent lies in northern plains and
20 per cent in central India. More than 90 per cent wheat area is sown to bread wheat, which
is grown through out the country. A total of 200 farmers, 100 each from adopter and non
adopter categories were randomly selected from Gonder, Bhaini Khurd, Kacchwa, Pundrak,
Jundla, Sultanpur, Gorgarh, Bastali, Brass, Dabri, Pakhana, Shonkra, Manjura, Janeshro,
Hathlana, Northa, Jalmana villages of Karnal district. The adopters had favourable attitude
and were more prone to change towards zero tillage technology as compared to non-adopters.
The adopters had fairly good knowledge about zero tillage technology. The adopters exhibited
satisfaction in terms of saving in time, money, timeliness of sowing and yield. The constraint
like lack of adequate manpower with the state department of agriculture and input agencies
was perceived as the major extension constraint in the study area. The farmers also mentioned
lack of money to purchase new machines and inputs. The level of adoption can be improved
through educational means and government policies.