Early adoption of improved vertisol technology options and double cropping in Begumgunj, Madhya Pradesh

Perceptions of 25 verification trial watershed and neighboring farmers were elicited to assess the early acceptance of the Vertisol technology options tested in Begumgunj from 1982-83 to 1984-85. The economic analysis showed the main economic advantage of the improved technology stemmed from the highly profitable soybean/pigeonpea intercrop which substituted for traditional rainy season fallow - postrainy season wheat. Despite its impressive performance in the trials, interest in the soybean/pigeonpea intercrop has waned with only four of 25 farmers growing it in 1986-87. Frost risk was the most common explanation for the lack of interest. Preference for postrainy season subsistence crops instead of pigecnpea was also cited by several farmers. Not mentioned by farmers, but perhaps an important explanation, is tne difficulty of suing intercrops in rows with modern seed drills..