Under present intensive cropping systems, conventional agricultural practices over long-term were not found sustainable as it contributed to soil degradation, poor soil water retention, inefficient use of natural resources and global warming. Therefore, conservation agriculture (CA) technologies/practices were encouraged for sustainable agriculture in different crops. CA is defined as cropping systems based on minimum soil disturbance with the permanent surface covered through the retention of crop residues combined with diverse crop rotations. Resource conserving technologies (RCTs) referred to those practices or technologies that enhanced resources or input use efficiency. Presently, these technologies are still under the early stages of the adoption process. In Punjab, considerable efforts were made to popularize and increase the adoption of RCTs by state agricultural university and concerned line departments. However, the policies and efforts are inadequate and ineffective to achieve the desired results due to the lack of specific information in terms of farmer’s point of view. It is important to recognize the problems of the farmers at the grass-root level as well as the extension system responsible for the dissemination of technologies as the required changes were linked to people’s behaviour and attitudes. The economic benefits of various RCTs were reported by the farmers as reviewed in most of the studies. Farmers had a favourable attitude towards different resource conservation technologies. Non-availability of inputs and difficulty in the proper functioning of resource conservation technologies were the common problems observed in most of the studies reviewed. This paper reviewed the emergent concerns of the status of resource conservation technologies, the attitude of farmers and analysis the problems in the adoption of selected resource conservation technologies in Punjab. This review would be of great utility to agricultural planners, educators, and administrators in general in formulating the relevant policies and programs. On the basis of these, the appropriate programs for promotion and adoption of resource conservation technologies can be planned and implemented in a more efficient way so that the maximum number of farmers could be benefitted from these technologies.
Effect of resource conservation technologies (RCT’s) on yield and water productivity of wheat (Triticum aertivum L.) under vertisols of Tungabhadra project command area of Karnataka
