International Journal of Agriculture Extension and Social Development

author(s)
Subhojit Patra and Dipak Kumar Bose

abstract
The study assessed farmers’ knowledge and adoption of improved maize cultivation practices in Purulia District, West Bengal, during 2024-2025. A purposive sample of 130 farmers from eight maize-growing villages of Purulia-I and Purulia-II blocks was interviewed using a pre-tested schedule, and data were analysed with appropriate statistical tools. Results showed that 59.23% of respondents were middle-aged, 30.76% had primary education and 47.68% were engaged in agriculture with labour work. About 45.37% lived in hut-type houses, 40.76% owned less than one acre of land and 58.46% had medium annual income. More than half (52.31%) belonged to joint families. In terms of communication and psychological traits, 46.15% had low extension contact, 42.31% had medium mass media exposure, 46.15% medium social participation and 45.38% medium information sources; 47.69% showed medium scientific orientation, while risk orientation (60.76%) and progressiveness (48.46%) were mostly low. Overall, 69.23% of farmers had medium knowledge and 66.15% had medium adoption of improved maize practices. Education, occupation, housing type, landholding, income, extension contact, mass media exposure, information sources, scientific orientation and progressiveness were positively and significantly associated with knowledge and adoption, whereas age, family type and social participation were non-significant. The most severe constraint was lack of price assurance (83.08%), and the leading suggestion was provision of reliable crop insurance (84.62%) to reduce risks and enhance adoption.