Aim: Methodology:Results: Interpretation:This paper attempted to analyse the adaptation practices of potato farmers against the adverse effects of climate change in Meghalaya state of North East India, their level of adaptation and also the constraints to adoption of adaptation practices.The research design was selected for the study. The study was conducted in East Khasi Hills district of Meghalaya by interviewing 120 potato growers using interview schedule. The level of adaptation of each farmer to climate change was analyzed based on the total score of adaptation of each respondent farmer. The rank of each adaptation practice adopted by respondent farmers was analyzed using Weighted Mean Score. The constraints faced by potato growers to adoption of adaptation practices was identified by asking the respondents and simultaneously recording their responses.The findings revealed that there were twelve major adaptation practices followed by majority of potato growers. It also revealed that majority of the respondents had medium level of adaptation to climate change. The major constraints in adoption of adaptation practices were lack of quality seeds, price fluctuation in the market, low technical knowledge about improved potato cultivation, lack of efficient transport and marketing facilities, non-availability of production inputs and lack of information about weather and climate.The study recommended that the farm level adaptation practices followed by famers need to be p r o p e r l y i d e n t i f i e d , documented, refined and v a l i d a t e d b e f o r e d i s s e m i n a t i n g a n d integrating them into packages of practices for adaptation to climate change. Furthermore, these practices and adaptation constraints faced by farmers should be taken into account while developing future c l i m a t e c h a n g e strategies.

No abstract

There is a huge potato yield gap between India and developed countries and between regions within the country. This study examines the trends in potato area, yield, and production in India and North East India from 2000-01 to 2019-20, as well as the causes of the yield gap and the role of improved varieties in bridging it. Over two decades, all parameters showed positive trends in India and North East India, but growth rates were higher at the national level than in North East India. The growth in production was mainly attributed to an increase in area. During TE 2019-20, India produced 50.18 million tons (23.5 t/ha) of potatoes from 2.14 million ha, while North East India produced only 2.78 per cent (10 t/ha) from 8.15 per cent of national potato area. Low potato yield in the region is mainly caused by the lack of knowledge about and low adoption of quality seeds and recent varieties and other scientific potato technologies. State governments, research institutes, private seed companies, public policy bodies, and other potato stakeholders should facilitate the diffusion and adoption of improved varieties and other improved potato technologies to boost potato yield and farmers’ income.

The adoption of improved potato technologies is vital for increasing potato productivity and farmers’ income. Thus, this study attemptedto analyse the farm level adoption of improved potato technologies and also to identify the adoption constraints faced by farmers. The survey was conducted in Bulandshahar and Meerut districts of Uttar Pradesh by interviewing 85 randomly selected potato growers. The results revealed that there was very low adoption of some technologies and majority of farmers have medium level of adoption, which could be improved by organizing various extension activities like trainings, demonstrations, etc. There was very high incidence and intensity of adoption of improved varieties in the study locales; however, larger area was under old varieties, which should be replaced by new varieties that give higher yields and market demands.Government should take measures to ensure regular supply of quality seeds at prices affordable by all farmers’ categories, since majority of farmers obtained seeds from non-reliable sources. Finally, the study recommended that emphasis should be put more on serious constraints like lack of credit, subsidy and trainings, high cost/unavailability of labor, production inputs and quality seeds, heavy incidence of diseases and insects, low market price and price fluctuation, for speedy dissemination and adoption of improved potato production technologies.

Improved crop technologies have a critical role in increasing crop yield and farmers’ income. The present study was undertaken to analyze the adoption of recommended potato technologies in East Khasi Hills district of Meghalaya. The study revealed that majority of farmers adopted recommended technologies like improved varieties, seed preparation, maintenance of spacing, FYM application, earthing up, weeding, planting and harvesting times. However, there was poor adoption of technologies like land preparation, quality seeds, seed tuber treatment, seed replacement rate and nutrient management. Poor adoption of these technologies may be the reason for the low potato yield in the study areas. The study also revealed that majority of farmers had a medium level of adoption. Therefore, farmers should be encouraged to adopt these technologies and extension activities like training, demonstrations, etc. should be provided to enhance their knowledge and skills.