Abstract:
Mentha commonly known as Japanese mint or Pudina is an aromatic herb plant with high economic value. India is the largest producer of mentha oil in the world contributing almost 80% of total production in the world and Uttar Pradesh is the highest producing state contributing almost 80-90 % of total production of mentha oil in the country. However, the average productivity of mentha oil in U.P. at 1.4 tons per ha is very low compared to 3.5 to 4 tons in developed countries. The study was undertaken in two selected districts of Central Uttar Pradesh viz., Barabanki and Lucknow, to assess the extent of adoption of improved mentha cultivation practices, to study the relationship of extent of adoption of improved mentha cultivation with selected variables and to find out the consequences of adoption of mentha cultivation. Through multistage sampling, total of 120 respondents in the study were selected and interviewed using a pre-structured interview schedule. The finding of the study showed that more than 65 percent of the respondents belonged to medium level adoption category and the mean overall adoption score was 30.49 %. Highest extent of adoption was observed in the items cessation of irrigation before harvesting and recommended plant distance while adoption level was lowest in management of rust and white grub. If main area of recommended practices were considered, transplanting and harvesting were found having highest adoption while pest management and nutrient management had lowest adoption. The extent of adoption in most of the recommended practices was found to be significantly higher in Barabanki as compared to Lucknow. Majority of the respondents were aged between 29-48 years, had primary level of education and were marginal farmers. VLEW and Agricultural Development Officer were the mostly contacted extension agents and radio and newspaper were the mass media to which the farmers had most exposure to. The variables found to be significantly associated with extent of adoption of mentha cultivation practices were education, land holding, annual household income, experience in mentha farming, contact with extension agents, mass media exposure, trainings attended on mentha, irrigation source, labour availability, marketing channel and access to distillation unit. Decrease in water table was the most important undesirable consequence reported followed by decline in soil fertility and yield and increased incidence of pest attack in other crops. Increased divide between the rich and poor was also expressed. Desirable consequences include high profit, increase in socio-economic status, increase in social relations and contact with extension agents and decreased attack to standing crop by animals. Generation of more awareness, knowledge and skill through various training interventions as well as formation of cooperative society of mentha farmers were recommended for increased productivity and better returns of the farmers.
Keywords: Adoption, mentha, Uttar Pradesh, consequences.

Includes bibliographical references.