IDENTIFICATION OF TECHNOLOGICAL GAP IN PINEAPPLE CULTIVATION IN SOME SELECTED AREAS OF WEST BENGAL 1

Abstract: The pineapple (Ananas sativus syn. Ananas Comosus Merr) is one of the most important commercial tropical fruits of the world. Among the 6 agro-climatic zones of West Bengal, Darjeeling District comes under Terai and Hill zone. Some Block of Darjeeling district has a huge potential for pineapple cultivation owing to the fertile soil and conducive agro-climatic conditions (average Rain fall and average Temperature). To increase the production per unit area different agency including State and Central department of Agriculture, has disseminated different technology in the region where the study has been made. The present study was conducted during March ’ 2012 to June’2012 at Phansidewa Block of Darjeeling District in West Bengal where the pineapple cultivation is prevalent. The objective of the study was to identify technological gap in pineapple cultivation, and to measure relationship of different socio-economic, socio-psychological and extension-communication variables with technological gap of respondents. The District, Block, Gram Panchayats, Villages and respondents were selected purposively. Data have been collected through well structured schedule followed by interview method and result have been analyzed by descriptive statistics, co-efficient of correlation and multiple regression analysis by taking technological gap as dependent variable and other fifteen variables as independent variables. After analyzing the data, it was found the highest technological gaps were in treatment of planting material, desuckering, fertilizer application and micro nutrient application and no gap was found in case of regulation of flowering, protection against su