Outcome of Awareness Programmes on Adoption of Soil Test for Fertilizer Management in Tiruchirappalli District of Tamil Nadu

Soil testing is a chemical process by virtue of which requirement of nutrients for plant can be analyzed so as to sustain the soil fertility. The basic objective of the soil testing is to provide a service to farmers to better and more economic use of fertilizers and better soil management practices for increasing agricultural production in their farm. The present study was conducted to explore the outcome of awareness programmes on adoption of soil testing conducted by Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK), Tiruchirappalli and its recommendations by the farmers from 2012-2017 in Tiruchirappalli district of Tamil Nadu. Primary data was collected in relation to awareness programmes conducted and number of soil samples analysed in laboratory to look at the farmers adopted soil testing and its recommendations. The data revealed that under the awareness programmes conducted by the KVK were 52, 46, 47, 48 and 45 and during 2012-13, 2013-14, 2014-15, 2015-16 and 2016-17. Adoption of soils testing were 220, 190, 535, 603 and 695, farmers benefitted were 120, 105, 300, 393 and 411 and villages covered were 32, 25, 25, 115,108 during 2012-13, 2013-14, 2014-15, 2015-16 and 2016-17 respectively. A critical examination reveals that the trend in adoption of soil testing was increased in all the years. In the study it was found that awareness programmes on soil test and fertilizer management has the positive influence in adoption of soil test and fertilizer management and it was concluded that the technology transformation tools like training, demonstration, group meeting, exhibition, farmers day, awareness campaign, and social media like News paper, Tele vision and radio programmes etc., are effective to enhance the farmer’s knowledge, skill and attitude.