International Journal of Agriculture Extension and Social Development

author(s)
Surendra Singh Bana and YD Mishra

abstract
Food security, a critical issue in India, demands consistent efforts in improving the availability, accessibility, and affordability of nutritious food. The National Food Security Mission (NFSM) was launched to address declining yield growth and ensure sustainable agricultural productivity. This study evaluates the impact of NFSM interventions on the adoption of chickpea production technology in the Ajmer district of Rajasthan, a major chickpea-producing region. A total of 400 farmers—200 beneficiaries and 200 non-beneficiaries—were surveyed across six Panchayat Samitis to assess the extent of adoption of recommended practices such as high-yielding varieties, field preparation, seed treatment, and plant protection measures. Results indicated that 24.8% of growers showed a high level of adoption, with beneficiary farmers demonstrating significantly greater adoption levels (64.19 Mean Percent Score) compared to non-beneficiaries (48.90 MPS). Practice-wise analysis revealed statistically significant differences in eight out of nine practices, confirming the positive influence of NFSM support. The findings emphasize the importance of targeted extension programs and structured policy interventions in enhancing technology adoption and achieving food security goals.