TECHNOLOGICAL GAP IN RECOMMENDED CULTIVATION PRACTICES OF POTATO GROWERS IN EAST KHASI HILLS DISTRICT OF MEGHALAYA

Abstract

This study has been conducted to find out the technological gap in recommended cultivation practices
of the potato growers in order to understand the extent of the difference between the traditional and nontraditional practices practiced by the local farmers in the district. The aforementioned study was conducted in
East Khasi Hills district in the year 2020. A descriptive research designed was applied for this study. The primary
data was collected from 120 respondents by personal interview method using pre-structure interview schedule.
After the analysis of the data, it was observed that, maximum number of the respondents (38.30%) were having
medium level of extension contact and majority of the potato growers (58.00 %) belonged to high level of over-all
technological gap category. It indicates that a sum number of the population had incorporated the new
technologies while others have still yet to adopt and use the new recommended potato cultivation. The socioeconomic variables associated with the respondents, such as age, land holding, education, annual income and
mass media exposure, extension contact and personal contact were negatively and significantly associated with
the overall technological gap. The above results compel the research and extension system to work on the gaps
and negative relationship in a pragmatic way.