Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: Broad Bed Furrow (BBF) is an important climate-smart technology for improving the management of excess rainfall and soil moisture in soybean-based rainfed farming systems. The present study was undertaken to analyse the direct, indirect and total effects of selected characteristics of BBF adopters on the socio-economic impact of BBF technology. The study was conducted in Latur and Dharashiv districts of the Marathwada region of Maharashtra. A multistage sampling procedure was followed, and 150 soybean growers who had adopted BBF technology were selected from 30 villages. Data were collected through personal interviews using a pre-tested structured interview schedule and analysed using path analysis. The results revealed that area under soybean crop recorded the highest positive direct effect (0.320) on socio-economic impact, followed by annual income (0.224), land holding (0.184), attitude towards BBF technology (0.171), sources of information (0.160) and material possession (0.122). Area under BBF technology recorded a negative direct effect (-0.162) but showed the highest total indirect effect (0.797), indicating that its contribution was largely mediated through other variables. Land holding recorded the highest total effect (0.691), followed by annual income (0.668), area under soybean crop (0.657), area under BBF technology (0.635), material possession (0.522), sources of information (0.441) and social participation (0.429). Area under soybean crop, sources of information and attitude towards BBF technology emerged as important pathways through which several characteristics contributed indirectly to socio-economic impact. The findings indicate that farm resource base, economic status, extent of soybean cultivation, access to information and favourable attitude towards BBF technology were important factors associated with the socio-economic impact of BBF among adopters. Strengthening extension support, improving access to relevant information and encouraging favourable perceptions towards BBF technology may therefore help farmers realize greater socio-economic benefits from climate-smart soybean production.
Institution: Marathwada Agricultural University
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W7203870809
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