Asian Jo~trnd

of E n n W~iral~rn,
XXW 2005 :4 4 -'
A Study on the Yield Gap Analysis in Paddy,
in the Erode District of Tamil Nadu
Balasubmmeni N.', P.S. SwathilekshmiZand K. Chandrakandan'

Rice is the most importantfood crop for more
than two lhirds of the Indian population. During the
period 1950-51 to 2001-02,the area has increased
by one and a halt times (31.0 million hectares to
44,6 million hectares), productivity by three times
(668Kgha lo 2086 Kg/ha) and production by four
and a half times (20.58 million tons to 90 million)
(Mishra, 2005). But the projected demand for rice
is 125 milmn tons by 2020 at the current rate of
population growth.
In this context, yield gap in rice i.e. the
diWerenca the (yield
by the research $tation) and the (yield
obtained by ,he farmer in his stands as a
valuable performance indicator for the rice
produdion in the country.
InOrder the increased demand 'Or
rice juxtaposed with an increasing population
growth, the adoption of crop produdion
technologies in the farmers field emerges as the
most important solution, which in turn s e m s t0
bridge this yield gap.
Against the backdrop of this situation. it was
decided to conduct the following study with the
objectives as detailed below.
1. To study the profile characteristics 01 the rice
growers.
2. To estimate the yield gap prevailingon po~ular /
rice varieties.
g T~ study the constraints faced by the rice
I1
growers in adoptlng the recommended rice 1
technologies.
MRHODOLOGY
The research was undertaken to study the 1
'
yield gap analysis among rice growers of the
Western Zone of Erode district. Among the seven 1 1
taluks of Erode district, Erode taluk having the
highest area under rice cultivatlon was selected.
having the highest area under
rice In Ercde taluka was selected. Among the four .
firkas in Modakuruchi block, two firkas having the
highest Paddy area were selected. Two villages
namely M.S.Mangalarn and Modakuruchi, one
each from the two firkas were selected. 20
respondents each from the small, medium end
big farmer category were selected to constitute a
sample size of gxty
A total of 16 independent variables and one
dependent variable namely yield gap, were
for the study. The Independent va"ables
we,e measured us,ng standardized scoring
procedure. The dependant variable yield gap was
measured uslng the formula.

Average gap =
-
Potential yield Actual yield
--..----.---.---.-------.---...--
.. X 100
Potential yield

Suitable statistical tools such as Percentage The extent of adoption was measured by the
analysis, cumulative frequency, Pearson's scale followed by Adhiguru (1991) and Ihe
correlation coefficient and multiple regression respondents were categorized in to low, medlum
analysis was used for the study. and high based on cumulative frequency method.
-
182 Ph.0 Scholars. Dept. of Agrll. Extension and Rural Sociology,
3 Professor, Depl. of Agricultural Extensionand Rural Sociologl. Tamilnadu Agridtural University, Colrnbatwe, India
 Asian Journal of Extension Ednc;.tiol1. XXIV. 2005
Asian Jomnal of Extension Education. XXIV. 2005

FINDINGS had low level 01 social participation.

SI. Variable Number of Percentage
No. respondents Further perusal of th e table showed that 86.67
A perusal of Table 1 revealed that majority of
8. Social Participation per cent practiced a single season of c ropping
Ihe respondents (51 .67 per cen t) were old,
Low 35 58.33 pattern, 40.00 per cent had high level of economic
!allowed by 26.66 per cent in the secondary level
Medium 16 26.67 motivalion, 48.33 pe r cent had a low level of farm
of education and 86.67 per cent had agriculture
High 9 15.00 power status, 43.33 per cent had a medium level
as primary occupation. With respect to the area
9. C roppin g Pattern under rice cultivation, majority of tha respondents of extension participation. and 45.00 per cent had
Single season 52 86.67 (71.67 per cent) had higher area under rice a high level of credit orienlation.
More than one season 8 13.33 cultivation. As far as the experience in rice The high level of credit orientation has been
10. Econom ic motivation cullivation was concerned. it could be observed attributed to the presence of Primary Agricultural
Low 14 23.33 from the table that most of the respondents (63.30 credit so cieti es and Banking institut ions which
Medium 20 33.33 per cent) had high level of experience in rice facilitated easy and timely disposal of crop loans.
H igh 26 40.00 cultivation. and with respect to the level of annual With respect to labou r availab ility it was observed
11. Farm Power Status income, it was observed that a liltle more than half that 49.00 per cent of the respondents had a low
Low 29 48.33 the total number of respondents (56.67 per cenl) level of labou r availability. Further it could be
Medium 22 36.67 had medium level of annual income. An observed observed from the table that 66.67 per cent of the
High 9 15.00 of the social participation of the respondents respondents had a high level of input availability
12. Extension Participation revealed thai 58.33 per cent of the respondents and 40.00 per cent of the respondents had a
Low 19 31.67
Table 2. Adoption behaviour of farmers on recommended practices of Paddy cultivation
Medium 26 43.33
(n=60)
High 15 25.00
51. Specific recommended practices in Adoption
13. Credit Orientation
No. paddy cultivation Number %
Low 14 23.33
19 31.67 1. Variety 60 100.00
Medium
27 45.00 2. Optimum seed rate 60 100 .00
High
3. Seed treatment 60 100.00
14. Labour avai lability
24 49 .00 4. Plant population 40 66 .67
Low
26 43.00 5. Soil testing 20 33.33
Medium
10 16.67 6. Diammonium Phosphate to nursery 32 53.33
High
7. Application of fertilizer based on soil testing 15 25.00
15. Input availability
6 10.00 8. Sio-fertilizer application 46 76 .67
Low
14 23 .33 9. Micro nulrient application (ZnS04) 29 48 .33
Medium
40 66.67 10. Split application of fertilizer 52 86.67
High
11. Integrated pest management 28 46.67
16. Information seeking behaviour
16 26.67 12. Integrated nutrienl management 31 51.67
Low
Medium
High
24
20
40.00
33.33
I 13.
14.
Integrat ed weed management
Integrated water management
34
48
56.67
80.00
! 15. Time ly harvest 60 100.00

46
 A~ i all Jo urnal of f.x tcnsiOll uJ ucatloll. XXIV. 2005
AsiUlI Jonrnal of ];xte nsioll [ dncillion. XX IV, 20 05
Table 5. Distri b ution of t he farme rs b ased on yield gaps and padd y y ield
Table 4. Yield gap prev al ent among
medium level of info rmation seeking behaviour.
( various categories of farmers SI.No. Yield obtained qlha No. of farmers Percentage Yield percentage
A peru sal of Table 2 shows the ado ption during Samba season 39.00 6.67 50.59
1. 4
behaviour of farmers on recommended practices Yield gap 2. 45.50 6 10.00 42 .35
St. Category
of paddy cultivation. 11 Is evident from the table thaI r/.) 3. 52.00 7 11.67 34.12
No.
there is a differential adopt ion o f individua l 4. 58.50 18 30.00 25.68
1. Marginal farmers 34.33
5. 65.00 14 23.33 17.65
recom mended practices Le, cent per cent of the
2. Small farme rs 24.20 9.41
6. 71.50 8 13.33
responde nt s had adopted the practice s like
Big f armElrs 19.10 7. 78 .00 3 5.00 1.18
improved variety, optimum seed rate, seed treatment 3.
Total 409.50 60 100.00 25.88
and timely halV8st. Most of th e farmers had adopted Average Yield Gap (%) 25 .88
the practices like spli t app lication of fertilizer Average Yield 59.37 qlha Highest yield obtained by the cultivator 78 q/ha
23.33 per cent in the low adoption category.
(86.67%), integrated water manageme nt (80%) and Average yield gaps 25. 88% Lowest yield obtained by the cultivator 39 q/ha
An ob servation of Table 4 revealed the yield Potential yield o f ADT·39 in western zone 78.83 qlha
bio-fertilizer application (76.67%). This may be due
to the fact that more awareness on the high cost of gap prevalent among variou s categories of Tab le 6. Relationship and inflUence of factors o~ yield gap of Paddy crop
farmers during t he samba season. For the present
fertilizers and less cost 01 bio-fertilizers and limited
study, th e yield gap was computed fo r ADT-39, 51. Variable J Factors 'r'value Regression analysis
quantity of water for irrigation are the determining
which had the maximum acreage in the study area No. '8 ' Standard error 't'value
1actors for adoption . The possible explanation may
during samba season. The table revealed that the
be put in terms of th~ fact that, the public extension 1. Inadequate irrigation water 0 .6 15 NS 13.715 11.357 1 .316 NS
yield gaps in the different categories 01 farmers
system in the study area is distributing the required 2. Low fertility of soil 0 .564"- 15.695 7.630 2 .003 NS
varied from 19.10 per cent to 34.33 per cent. The
quantity of certified and foun dation seed. 3. Saline and alka line p roblem soi l 0.201 NS -1 2.354 9.994 ·2.007 NS
yield g ap per ce nt an alys is re vea led that a
4. High cost of Agril. Inputs 0.600" 4.650 8.542 0.676 NS
A grea t majority o f the far mers had not maximum gap of 34.33 per cent was found among
5. High rate of interest for credit 0 .090NS -0 .304 1.726 ·0.495 N5
adopted , fertilizers based on soil test, IPM and margi nal farmers whil e 24.2 1 per cent gap was
6. High cost of labour 0.030NS -1.905 1.810 -1.567 N5
micro.nutrient application for lack of technical know· noticed among big farmers. Overall it revealed that ,
7. Non-availability of human labour during 0 .072NS 3.807 8 .167 0.436 N5
how, complexity of the practices, non-realization of an average yield gap of 25.88 per cent existed
peak season of planting and harvesting
among all the respondents. Lack of proper and assured supply of 0.096NS 2.909 20.002 0. 376'
Tabl e 3. Dist ribu tion of t he respondents 8.
based on extent of ad option Further it c ould be observed that the yield electricity I fuel to oil enqui re
9. Non-avai lability of high yielding variety -0 .09 1 NS 1.502 17.780 0 . 127"
obtained by the farmers varied from 39.00 qlha to
Adoption for Samba
51. Specific recommended 78.00 q/ha. Th e highest percentage (30.00%) o f
Number % 10. Using own seeds for a number of years 0.017NS 0.964 9.363 0 .207"
No. practices in paddy the farmers obtained a yield of 58.50 qlha. About
11. Using of aged seedling s 0 .153NS 12.651 5.572 2.884 N5
cultivation
7.00 per cent of the respondents had ob tained 0.156NS -7 .603 10.004 -0.947 NS
14 23.33 12. Low plant popul alion
1. Low lowest yield of 39.00 q/ha, where as only 5.00 per
13. Micro nutrient de ficiency In soil 0 .294' 2 3 .667 12.605 2.224 NS
30 50 .00
2. Medium cent of them had highest yield of 78.00 qlha. Yield 0.608 " -7.786 17.623 -0.745 NS
14. Contract system for transplanting,
16 26.67
3. High gap per cent was found to vary from 1.18 per c ent weeding and harvesting operations
to SO.59 per cent. However an average yield gap 15. Application of fertilizers not based on 0.493 " -8 .345 6.346 2.346 NS
importance of these practices. The findings of the
was found be 25.88 per cent. soil t esting recommendation
study were in agreement wit h the findings of
16 . Insecticide resistances in paddy pest 0 .673 " 13.846 32.758 -0 .7 43NS
Rajasekhar ( 1986). A perusal of Table 6 revealed that out of the 0. 054 -19 .557 26 .779 -1.8047 NS
17. Lack of adequate demonstration in
seventeen factors studied with respect to the yie ld paddy technologies
A perusal of Table 3 revealed that half of the
gap in Paddy, critical factors such as low fertility of
total number of respondents studied (50.00 per F 3.867"
soil , high cost of agricu ltura l inputs , contract R' 0 .613
cent) had a medium level o f adoption followed by Significant at 0.05 level Significant at 0 .01 level
system for t ran splanting. weeding and harvesting
26.27 per cent in the high adoption category, and NS Non significant
49
48
 .
Asian Jollma I of ..xlcnsion f.ducahOIl. XXIV. l OO!'>• .
" A,s HUl.l OllrJI tlf of EX lo.:llsiott L!ItCldioll, XXIV , 2 005
1 ope r a tion. application of fertilizers n ~t baS~d. on yield gap of paddy crop, it was observed that factors
The cOnstraints facoo by the paddy farmers
.
soil t es t ing reco mme ndallon an d Insecticide
.. suc h as Iae k Of proper and assured su pply. of h are enumerated in Table 7. improved practices in paddy cultivation . T he
res .is tance In
. Paddy pests maintained posllively
. electricity Iluelia oil engine. non-availability of h19
extension personnel can increase the number of
and high ly significant relationship with the Yield g~ yielding variety for sam ba and SOWin~ o~ own The majo r Bio-physica l problems of farmers
in the prOduction of paddy were adop ting specific training and demonstration programmes and seek
'n Paddy. Thus it could be inferred t han low ,SOIl seeds fo r a nu rn ber of yea rs had po slllvt: Th"
and
fertilizer application, adopting correct SpaCing and to encourage and motivate farmers 10 partiCipate
Ifertility, hig h cost of agncultura
' I mpu ' ts , micronut nent
. significant influence on the yield gap of P ~ddY. IS
non-availabilily of improved seeds and poor quality and get the benefits out of them. The use of village
defic iency in soil, contract system for tran~ pl a,nllng, it could be explained 1hat an increase In ladors
of seed. Majority of the farmers appl ied fertilizers knowledge centres and e-chaupals for speedy and
.
weeding and harvesting opera f Ion , applicallOn. of
such as Iae k 01 proper and assured .supply . . of
h effec tive dissemination of inrormation among the
fe rtili zers not b ased o n so il , t estmg
. electricity I fuel to oil eng ine, non-availab ility of hlg on blanket recommendat ion due to their lack of
awareness and knowledge about recommended fa rm ing community should be mqde use 01.
recomm endatio ns and insecticide resistance
. dd In yielding variety for sam ba, and using own seeds
.
pad d y pests increased the yi eld gap In pa y. for a number of years, were found to res ult In ~ n fertilizers. Due to demand for labour, during peak CONCLUSIONS
increase 0 I 0 . 376 , 0 . 127 an d 0.207 un its period of crop, the major work like transPlanting Rice OCCupies a pivotal place in India 's
With respect to the influence or· facto rs on the
respectively in the yield gap of paddy. was carri ed ou l o n co ntract baS is. Hence fOOd security and livelihood system. The country
Table 7 . Constraints faced b y Paddy farmer s maintaining the optimum plant population was has to produce about 135- 140 million tons of rice
perceived as a difficult task.
by 2020 t o meet it s ever-i ncreas ing food
(n =6 0)
Major Biological constraints perceived by the requirem ents. The achievement of this ta rget is no
SLNo. Constr aints No. % Rank
farme rs were ina dequate or ga n ic malte r, doubt a challenging taSk. but if is not unachievable
l Biophysical Constraint s
oCcurrence of weeds, higher pest incidence, low keeping in mind the potential opportunities and
1. Availability of improved variety 20 33.33 "I
plant population and inadeq uate irrigatio n water. avenues yet to be exploited in crop improvement
2. Poor quality of seed 15 25.00 IV
3. 58.33 Du e to Jack of farm yard manure and green research; and the u!iJization of the services of a well
Adopting correct spacing . . 35 II
4. AdootinQ soecific fertilizer applicatIOn 48 80.00 I manu ri ng f a rmers depe nd heavily on t he knit extension system for the speedy and effective
II. Biological Constraints indiscriminate application of inorganic fertilizers dissemination of these imp roved technolog ies.
1. Inadequate irrigation water 35 5 8.33 V to maintain prOductivity of crop which leads to heavy Consolidation of yield by correction of factors
2. Low popula tion 38 6 3.33 IV occurrence of pests and diseases and also to inftuencing of yield gap o f paddy is however
3. Occu rrence of weeds 45 75.00 II deteriorating soil heatth.
conside red as the mor e p romising shorH erm
4. Higher pest i ncidence 39 65.00 "I strategy. T he study has clearly brought out the factors
Amo ng t he m ajor soc ia· economic
5. Inadequate organic mailer 48 80.00 I infl uencing the yield gap of paddy.
constraints perceived by Ihe farmers were high
I". Socio~Eco nomic constraints
cost of labour, high cost of inputs, high ra te of credit, Ensuring free and assureds upp ly of electricity
1. High cost of Labour 57 95.00 I
no n-ava ilabili ty of credit and scattered land 10 farmers, undertaking massive prodUction and
2. Non-availability of credit 40 66.67 IV hOlding.
3. High rate of credit 42 70 .00 II I supply 01 gOod quality seeds for samba season,
4. High cost of credit 56 93.33 II The probfems like high cost of labour and educating the farmers o n th~ il/ effects of Using Own
5. Non-availability of soil testing cent re 20 33.33 VIII inp ut m ay be redUced by increas in g the seeds for a number of years successively, thro ugh
6. Non-avai lability of f arm ing implements 30 50.00 productivity. The high rate and non-availability of the use of result demonstrations, and multimedia
7. Improper harvesting 25 41.67 VII credit are to be tackled properly by the co-ordinated presentations are effective measu res for narrowing
8. Scattered land holding 32 53.33 V this yield gap.
efforts of public extensio n pe rsonnel with Ihe
9. Lack of tran sp ort facilities 18 30.00 IX bankers, and by way of organizing WOrkshop and A number of factors were observed to have a
IV. Other Constraints sem in a r be fore the croppi ng season. O ther POSitive and Significant relationship with the yield
1. Absence of demonstration 34 56.67 II cOnstrai nt s pe rceived by the farmers were gap of paddy. Problem of low fertJli ty of soil Could be
2. Lack of training facilities 36 60.00 I
abse nce 01 de monst rat io n and lack of training solved by reso rting to effective use of organ ic
3. Lack of union 15 25.00 III
facilities. These const raints were found to affect manure app lication. It was a lso obse rved that
the dissemination of innovation and adoption of application of fertilizers not based on soil testing
50
51