Adoption of selected agricultural innovations, technology and improved/modern farm practices and their relationship with socio – economic characteristics in a rural block in West Bengal, India

Farming community is at a crucial state of transformation both in farming activities as well as in their social life. Farm power and material possession show a clear indication of such change. Nuclear family concept is evident. Draught animals raring are also going to be diminished. Irrigation and pest management equipment are found plenty. Bullock cart is totally extinct instead they are using Tricycle Van and Tractor drawn Trolley as means of conveyance of farm articles. Possession of Mobile Telephone, Bicycle, Television are most common. They are also not far away in utilisation of LPG for cooking purpose. They adopted more the modern farm practices followed by adoption of improved variety of crops then pest and nutrient management and have comparatively less interest in the adoption of organic farming. Study signifies that different socio-economic attributes of the farmers plays very important and dominant role in the adoption of different agricultural technologies, practices and innovations of the farmers. Regression analysis shows that material possession, annual income, age, education etc have strong and direct effect on adoption of different innovations.  Study indicates that farmers’ material possession especially electronic gadgets surpass the possession of farm power which hint at the contraction of farm infrastructure which might have direct bearing with the farm productivity.