Technologies for maize, wheat, rice and pulses in marginal districts of Bihar and Odisha

Abstract

This chapter looks at potential technologies for marginal districts in two of the most backward states in India - Bihar and Odisha. Based on technological performance, we identified the marginal districts for four principal crops, i.e. rice, wheat, maize and pulses, and assessed the potential of the technologies in terms of their agro-ecological suitability, as well as the complementary inputs required for success. Using a primary survey, we gauge the real opportunities and constraints for technology adoption directly from the farmers, including their aspirations about crop choices and the technologies that exist to grow them. Maize and pulses turn out to be crops that farmers currently aspire to get into. Also, data distinctly reveals, in some cases, the disconnect between perceived potential of the technology among experts and the valuation of the same by likely adopters.