The role of straw yield and quality in farmers' decisions about the adoption of pearl millet cultivars in western Rajasthan was examined using farm household surveys. Information on the relative importance of grain versus straw yield, the perceived risks associated with the use of new cultivars under variable climatic conditions and perceptions of straw quality indicated that improved cultivars of pearl millet were not adopted primarily because of poor grain yield in years with low rainfall, though poor straw yield in such years was also important. These results are particularly pertinent in the light of farmers' perceptions of the likelihood of experiencing drought or low rainfall. If new cultivars of pearl millet are to replace the traditional ones, they must perform better under conditions of limited rainfall.
The study deals with crop yields of bajra, kharif pulses and sesamum in relation to rainfall, mean relative humidity and mean temperature in Jodhpur district of western Rajasthan. Highest instability was observed in order to sesamum, bajra and kharif pulses, while mean relative humidity and mean temperature were more stable. Multivariate analysis showed that yield of crops under study were positive and significantly influenced by rainfall and negatively by mean temperature an Mon- barring bajra crop. The mean relative humidity had weak influence on crop productivity and significant at lower level. The order of variables were rainfall, mean relative humidity and mean temperature, for bajra and kharif pulses while for sesamum order was rainfall, mean temperature and mean relative humidity. Therefore, to increase the yield of crops, technological changes like use of fertilizer and HYV seeds more tolerant to temperature should be popularized.
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