Ecology, Environment and Conservation Paper

AN ANALYSIS OF REASONS FOR SELECTING DIFFERENT CROP PRODUCTION PRACTICES BY POTATO GROWERS IN SUBTROPICS OF JAMMU DIVISION

Quadri Javeed Ahmad Peer, M.A. Beigh, Jasvinder Kaur, Sajad Abdullah Saraf and M.H. Chesti

Abstract

Potato is one of the major starch tuber vegetable crops of the world. It is a wholesome food and consumed by all sections of the people. The present study was undertaken in purposively selected sub-divisions of Marh, R.S. Pura, Dayalachak and Samba of Jammu, Kathua and Samba districts of Jammu division. These are the main potato growing districts in Jammu division. Fifteen villages were selected from the selected sub-divisions by proportionate allocation method based on the maximum area under potato crop. A sample of 225 potato growers was selected randomly from 15 villages and from each village, 15 potato growers were selected randomly. It was observed during the study that majority of the respondents (60.44%) had procured seed from State Department of Agriculture. Whereas 32.89 percent of respodents had own seed for production purpases the main reason for retaining their own seed for sowing of potato was low cost of seed (100%) and easy availability (100%) as reported by the respondents. A whopping 82.67 per cent respondent concur that the primary reason for adopting recommended Plant protection measures was that it gave better quality production.