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Adoption and Impact of zero till Technologies

Survey questionnaire

Enumerator #1

Enumerator #2

Interview date

Questionnaire ID ()

Farmer's name

Region ()

District ()

Village ()

Use of zero till ()

1 = uses, 2 = abandoned, 3 = never used
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1 Farmer’s household characteristics

1.1 Land ownership

Land farmed (all crops) in 2000 (ac):

owned (ac) ()
sharecropped (ac) ()
rented (ac) ()
other (ac) ()
Total ()

Irrigated area (ac.) ()

Rice-wheat area (ac.) ()

Compared to 5 years ago, how has the area you plant changed? ()
1 = increased, 2 = remained the same, 3 = decreased

Was zero till related to the change in the area you plant? ()
1 = yes, 2 = no, 99 = N/A

()

How many years have you been working on the same main plot? ()
The main plot is what the farmer considers to be his most important piece of land where cropping and
management is the same. This could be RW or another system.

How many years have you been working on the same main rice-wheat plot? ()
The main plot rice-wheat plot is what the farmer considers to be his most important piece of land where
rice-wheat is grown with the same management.

1.2 Farmer’s sources of income

1. Please list the crops that you grew in 2002

() () () () () ()
1= rice, 2 = wheat, 3= Oilseeds, 4 = pulses, 5 = potato, 6 = fodder, 7 = vegetables, 8 = sugarcane, 99 = N/A

2. Of the crops that you grow, please list those that provide the most cash income
(list in order of importance)
Source 1 () Source 2 () Source 3 ()
1 = rice, 2 = wheat, 3= Oilseeds, 4 = pulses, 5 = potato, 6 = fodder, 7 = vegetables, 8 = sugarcane,, 99 = N/A

3. Please list your most important sources of non-agricultural income (list in order of importance)
Source 1 () Source 2 () Source 3 ()
1 = wage labor in agriculture, 2 = wage labor elsewhere, 3 =sales of animals, 5 = poultry sale, 6 = sales
milk, 7 = trading, 8 = transport, 9 = tailoring , 10 = carpentry, 11 = other, 99 = N/A
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4. What is your most important source of income? (check one)

Agriculture () Non-agriculture ()

1.3 Input markets

1.3.1 Tractors

How do you prepare the land? ()

1 = tractor, 2 = animals, 3 = both

Do you own a tractor? ()

1 = yes a 2-wheel tractor, 2 = yes, a 4-wheel tractor, 3 =no

If you do not own a tractor

Do you rent a tractor for land preparation? ()

1 = yes, 2 = no

If you rent a tractor for land preparation, what's the rate per acre (Rs.)? ()

If you rent animals for land preparation, what's the rate per acre (Rs.)? ()

If you do, can you find one easily when you need it? ()
1 = yes, 2 = no, 99 = N/A

Are tractor services affordable? ()

1 = yes, 2 = no, 99 = N/A

If you do, is it easy to find a well trained contractor? ()

1 = yes, 2 = no, 99 = N/A

If you own a tractor

Do you offer contract services for land preparation to other farmers? ()

1 = yes, 2 = no

How many acres do you plough with your tractor as a contractor? ()

Have you been expanding your contracting business? ()

1 = yes, 2 = no, 3= stayed the same

1.3.2 Herbicide application

Do you contract herbicide applications? ()

1 = yes, 2 = no

If you do, can you find a contractor when you need it? ()
1 = yes, 2 = no, 99 = N/A
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If you do, are they affordable? ()

1 = yes, 2 = no, 99 = N/A

If you do, is it easy to find a well trained contractor? ()

1 = yes, 2 = no, 99 = N/A

If you do not, why not? ()

1 = non available, 2 = too expensive, 3 = I do it myself, 99 = N/A

1.4 What do you know about zero till in your village? (not about yourself)

How many farmers in the village use zero till? ()

1 = most, 2 = several, 3 = few, 4 = none except me, 5 = none, not even me

How wealthy are the farmers who use zero till in the village? ()
1= rich, 2 = average, 3 = poor, 4 = rich and average, 5 = poor and average

What farmers adopted zero till first in the village? ()

1= rich, 2 = average, 3 = poor

What is happening to the number of farmers who use zero till in the village? ()
1= is increasing, 2 = is the same, 3 = is falling

Do farmers who adopted zero till have a larger income than before adopting? ()
1 = yes, 2 = no, 99 = can’t tell

Which are the three most important crops under zero till in your () () ()
village?
1= rice, 2 = wheat, 3= Oilseeds, 4 = pulses, 5 = potato, 6 = fodder, 7 = vegetables, 8 = sugarcane, 99 =
N/A
1.5 Attitude of the social environment towards zero till

Do you belong to a group to discuss issues related to zero till? ()

1 = yes, 2 = no

What is your relatives’ opinion about zero till? ()

1 = zero till is good, 2 = zero till is no good, 3 = had no opinion, 99 = can’t tell

How is zero till viewed in your village? ()

1 = zero till is good, 2 = zero till is no good, 3 = had no opinion, 99 = can’t tell
1.6 Conventional agricultural practices before adoption (for users) or current
practices (for those who abandoned or never used)
How many plow passes did you do for wheat? ()
99 = NA

How many diesel liters did you use for each pass per acre (planting)? ()
99 = NA
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How many hours per acre did you use for each pass with the tractor (planting)? ()
99 = NA

How many hours per acre did you use for each pass with animals (planting)? ()
99 = NA

How many plank passes did you do for wheat? ()

How many diesel liters did you use for each pass per acre (planking)? ()
99 = NA

How many hours per acre did you use for each pass with the tractor (planking)? ()
99 = NA

How many hours per acre did you use for each pass with animals (planking)? ()
99 = NA

How many diesel liters per acre did you use for planting? ()
99 = NA

How hours per acre did you use for planting? ()

99 = NA

Seed rate for wheat (ac.)? ()

99 = NA

Planting date for wheat? ()

99 = NA

What is the source of irrigation water? ()

1 = canal, 2 = tubewell, 3 = both, 4 = other _______________________

Time required for the first irrigation (hr/ac)? ()

Time required for the second irrigation (hr/ac)? ()

How many irrigations did you use for wheat? ()

Cost of irrigation (Rs/ac)

Canal Tubewell

Do you observe yellowing after first irrigation? ()

1 = yes, 2 = no

How do you apply the fertilizer? ()

1 = broadcast, 2 = drill, 3 = other ______________

How much fertilizer do you use (kg/ac)

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Urea DAP K

What is the cost of the fertilizer (Rs/kg)

Urea DAP K

Herbicide use
brand rate cost (Rs/kg)

How did you apply the herbicide? ()

1 = sprayer, 2 =broadcast, 3 = other ____________________

If you used a sprayer, do you own one? ()

1 = yes, 2 = no, I rented one, 3 = no, I contracted the service, 4 = never used one

Did you hand-weed the wheat crop? ()

1 = yes, 2 = no

If you did, how many hours were required per ac? ()

If you did, what was the labor cost (Rs/ac)? ()

Date of wheat harvest? ()

How did you harvest the wheat? ()

1 = combine, 2 = manually, 3 = both

Harvest costs
Rs/hr Rs/ac hr/ac
Combine
Manually

Wheat yield (kg/ac) ()

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2 Zero till experience (for users and those who abandoned)

2.1 General questions

Which are your main sources of information about zero till? () () () () ()

1 = researcher 2 = extension agent, 3 = relative, 4 = another farmer (not related), 5 = neighbor, 6 = herbicide
seller, 7 = field day (organized by ________________), 8 = self, 9 = other means, 99 = N/A

Have you ever demonstrated or explained zero till to other farmers? ()

1 = yes, 2 = no

If you did, to whom? () () ()

1 = family, 2 = friends, 3 = neighbors, 4 = field day participants

Ever gave land for a zero till demonstration plot? ()

1 = yes, 2 = no

If yes, in which year? (may write N/A) ()

If yes, for which crop? (may write N/A) ()

1 = wheat, 2 = 99 = N/A

Have you ever received any training in zero till? ()

1 = yes, 2 = no

If yes, by whom? ()
1 = research, 2 = extension agent, 3 = herbicide supplier, 4 = NGO, 99 = N/A

What type of training did you receive (always related to ZT)?

() () () () () () () () () ()
1 = herbicide application, 2 = planting, 3 = drill adjustment, 4 = drill calibration, 5 = residue management, 6 = weed
control, 7 = soil management, 8 = organic matter management, 9 = fertilizer use, 99 = N/A
2.2 First experience with zero till

How did you first learn about zero till? ()

1 = neighbor, 2 = relative, 3 = another farmer (not related), 4 = herbicide seller, 5 = researcher,,6 = extension
agent, 7 = field day (organized by ________________), 8= school, 9 = radio/TV, 10 = brochure, 11 = other means

Year that zero till was first used in your fields? ()

Were you the first person to try zero till in your village? ()
1 = yes, 2 = no

When you first considered using zero till or you just started, were you concerned about ()
comments relatives, other farmers or neighbors would make about you?
1 = yes, 2 = no

Which problems were you trying to solve with zero till?

() () () () () () () () () ()
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1 = reduce labor requirement, 2 =advance the planting date for wheat, 3 = reduce irrigation water use, 4
= reduce the time required for irrigation, 5 = reduce the cost of renting equipment for land preparation
and planting, 6 = weed control, 7 = reduce fuel use, 8 = reduce machinery requirements, 9 = increase
income, 10 = increase food availability, 12 = diversify crops, 13 = increase availability of animal feed, 14
= other _______________________

Who managed the first trial? ()

1 = yourself without advice, 2 = yourself with advice from a neighbor, 3 = yourself with advice from
research or extension agent, 4 = yourself with advice from herbicide company employee, 5 = research, 6 =
extension agent, 7 = herbicide company employee

If you used a planter, how did you get it? ()

1 = I bought it, 2 = lent by extension service, 3 = lent by another farmer, 4 = rented from another farmer, 5 =
contracted service

Were weeds a problem? ()

1 = yes, but just the same as conventional till, 2 = yes but less than conventional till, 3 = yes and more
than conventional till, 4 = no, they were not a problem

How were weeds controlled? ()

1 = with herbicide, 2 = manually, 3= both herbicide and manually, 4= mechanically with bullocks,
5 = mechanically with tractor

How were the residues managed after the harvest of rice? ()

1 = loose residues were left on the ground, 2 = anchored straw were left on the ground, 3 = removed and fed to
animals, 4 = removed, 5 = burnt, 6= incorporated

What was the result of the first trial? ()

1 = excellent, 2 = very good, 3 = good, 4 = fair, 5= bad

Who took the decision to try zero till? ()

1 = respondent, 2 = respondent’s spouse, 3 = both, 4 = other, 99 = NA

3 Agricultural practices for your main zero till plot (for users)
3.1 Opinions on zero till

On which crops have you tried zero till?

() () () () ()
1= rice, 2 = wheat, 3= Oilseeds, 4 = pulses, 5 = potato, 6 = fodder, 7 = vegetables, 8 = sugarcane, 99 = N/A

How many planting seasons did it take you to notice the first benefits? ()

Was it difficult to use the zero till package properly and profitably? ()
1 = yes, 2 = no

How many years did it take you to be satisfied with the performance of zero till? ()

Do you agree with the following statements about the benefits of zero till?
(1 = strongly agree, 2 = agree, 3 = disagree, 4 = don’t know)
Allows expansion of the planted area ()
In bad years, I still get something ()
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Reduces soil erosion ()

Improves soil water availability for the plant ()
Reduces the need to use fertilizer ()
Improves soil structure ()
Reduces time between harvest and planting next crop ()
Facilitates weed control ()
Facilitates pest control ()
Yields are less affected by late or early planting ()
Increases yields ()
Reduces irrigation water use ()
Reduces energy use for irrigation ()
Reduces the rime required for irrigation ()
Allows earlier planting ()
Reduces production costs ()
Reduces labor requirements in critical moments ()
Work is less physically demanding ()
Children are able to go to school in place of working in the fields ()
Frees time to work on other activities ()

Do you agree with the following statements about the problems of zero till?
(1 = strongly agree, 2 = agree, 3 = disagree, 4 = don’t know)
Its different from what we used to do ()
It is difficult to learn how to manage the package ()
Zero till works in other fields, but not in my fields ()
The technology is only good for wheat ()
Planting is difficult ()
The drill is only good for wheat ()
The drill cannot control the seed depth properly ()
The drill gets clogged by loose residues and is a problem ()
The loose residues complicate irrigation ()
The drill is difficult to calibrate ()
The drill leaves too many wheat seeds without cover ()
It is difficult to manage the herbicides ()
Less plants survive ()
Compared to what you did before, more inputs have to be bought ()

Compared to this year, what do you plan to do with zero till? ()

1 = use it on more land, 2 = use it on the same amount of land, 3 = use it on less land, 4 = abandon it

Do you use zero till continuously or you use conventional till occasionally in 0-till fields? ()
1 = yes, 2 = no, I use zero till uninterruptedly

If you use zero till without interruptions, for how many years have you done it? ()

Have you modified the zero till package recommended by professionals? ()

1 = yes, 2 = no
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If you did, which changes did you introduce? _______________________________

_______________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________
_

3.2 Review of agricultural practices in 2002 for zero-till.

How many acres of wheat did you plant with zero till? ()

Did you use zero till on all your wheat land? ()

1 = yes, 2 = no

If you did not use zero till on all your wheat land, why?
() () () () ()
1 = still testing, 2 = some land not suitable, 3 = residue problems, 4 = drill not available on time, 5 = I do
not have enough money, 6 = other _____________________

How many acres of other crops did you plant with zero till? ()

Area planted zero till (ac)

Highland Medium Low

Type of soils (ac)

Heavy Medium Light

Planting

How many diesel liters per acre do you use for planting? ()

How hours per acre do you use for planting? ()

99 = NA

If yes, do you do custom planting for other farmers? ()

1 = yes, 2 = no

If you do custom 0-till planting for other farmers, what's the rate per acre (Rs.)? ()
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If you do not own a zero till drill, how much do you pay per acre (Rs.) for custom hiring ()
the 0-till drill?

If you contract plant 0-till, can you find a contractor when you need it? ()
1 = yes, 2 = no, 99 = N/A

If you contract plant 0-till, are they affordable? ()

1 = yes, 2 = no, 99 = N/A

If you contract plant 0-till, is it easy to find a well trained contractor? ()

1 = yes, 2 = no, 99 = N/A

Date of planting wheat with zero till ()

Seed rate for wheat in zero-till (kg/ac) ()

If you bought seed, what was the cost (Rs/kg)? ()

Irrigation

Time required for the first irrigation in 0-till (hr/ac)? ()

Time required for the second irrigation in 0-till (hr/ac)? ()

How many irrigations do you use for zero-till wheat? ()

Cost of irrigation (Rs/ac)

Canal Tubewell

Do you observe yellowing after first irrigation in 0-till? ()

1 = yes, 2 = no

Fertilization
How do you apply the fertilizer in 0-till? ()
1 = broadcast, 2 = drill, 3 = other ______________

How much fertilizer do you use in 0-till (kg/ac)

Urea DAP K

Herbicide use and weed control

Compared to conventional tillage, how is weed control in zero till? ()

1 = easier, 2 = same, 3 = more difficult

Compared to conventional tillage, how is weed problem is 0-till? ()

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1 = more, 2 = same, 3 = lower

Compared to conventional tillage, do you see different weeds? ()

1 = yes, 2 =no

Herbicides used
brand rate cost (Rs/kg)

How did you apply the herbicide? ()

1 = sprayer, 2 =broadcast, 3 = other ____________________

Did you hand-weed the wheat crop? ()

1 = yes, 2 = no

If you did, how many hours were required per ac? ()

If you did, what was the labor cost (Rs/ac)? ()

How is pest control today compared to what it was before zero till? (260)
1 = easier, 2 = more difficult, 3 = the same, 4 = can’t tell

Are you seeing more pests of the same type today compared to what was there before (261)
zero till?
1 = yes, 2 = no

Are you seeing different pests today compared to what was there before zero till? (262)
1 = yes, 2 = no

Harvesting

Date of wheat harvest? ()

How did you harvest the wheat? ()

1 = combine, 2 = manually, 3 = both

Harvest costs
Rs/hr Rs/ac hr/ac
Combine
Manually

Wheat yield (kg/ac) ()

3.3 Following rice crop

Compared to conventional tillage, how much tillage does the following rice crop require? ()
1 = more, 2 = equal, 3 = less
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Compared to conventional tillage, do you see a change in the weeds present in the ()
following rice crop?
1 = yes, 2 =no

3.4 Labor management

How many members of your family would normally work in your fields
Adult males Adult females Children under 14
years
Before adopting zero till () () ()
After adopting zero till () () ()

If zero till reduced the time you or family had to devote to working in the fields, what do ()
you do with the extra time?
1 = work out of the farm, 2 = started other farm activities, 3= other ___________
3.5 Impact of zero till

Which are the three main changes that zero till brought to your family? ____________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

Which are the three main changes that zero till brought to your farming activities ? ____

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________
_

Have you changed the number of crops you plant thanks to zero till? (298)
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1 = yes, increased, 2 = yes, decreased, 3 = no

Have you changed the crops you plant thanks to zero till? (299)
1 = yes, 2 = no

Has your income changed thanks to zero till? (300)

1 = yes, increased, 2 = yes, decreased, 3 = no

Has your food consumption changed thanks to zero till? (301)

1 = yes, increased, 2 = yes, decreased, 3 = the same

Would you buy a zero till drill that costs 10,000 Rs. more and could plant into loose ()
straw, and control better the seed depth and seed cover?
1 yes, 2 = no

If you or your family started new activities thanks to zero till, which are they? _________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

3.6 For people who rent land or are sharecroppers

How many years have you worked on the same plots? (302)

Have you had problems renewing your rental agreement because of zero till? (303)
1 = yes, 2 = no, 99 = N/A

For how many years is your lease? (304)

3.7 On the drill

How do you procure a zero till drill? ()

1 = I bought one, 2 = lent by extension service, 3 = lent by another farmer, 4 = rented from another farmer, 5 =
contracted service

If lent by extension service, for how many years have you used it? ()
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4 For people who abandoned

Why did you decide to abandon zero till?

(305) (306) (307) (308) (309) (310) (311) (312) (313) (314)
1 = could not control weeds, 2 = planting was too expensive, 3 = did not have access to adequate contract planting
timely, 4 = could not maintain the soil covered, 6 = could not manage the residues properly, 7 = could not control
pests, 8 = soil was too compact, 9 = zero till was too difficult, 10 = could not get adequate advice, 11 = required
additional work, 12 = it does not work on my soil, 13 = it is not good for the crops I grow, 14 =zero till requires more
cash than what I want to invest in agriculture, 15 = the yields were lower, 16 = other __________________

How many years did you use zero till? (315)

In which year did you stop zero till? (316)

When you used zero-till, did you own your drill? (364)
1 = yes, 2 = no

What would you require to use zero till again? _________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________
_

Did you ever try to simplify soil preparation? (321)

1 = yes, 2 = no

Do you have access to technical advice about zero till? (322)

1 = yes, 2 = no

If yes, from whom? (323)

1 = researcher 2 = extension agent, 3 = herbicide supplier, 4 = other farmer, 7 = other

If you do not have access to technical assistance about zero till, could you find it? (324)
1 = yes, 2 = no, they do not talk to farmers like me, 3 = I don’t know where to find it

In the last 3 years, have you changed your agricultural practices? (363)
1 = yes, 2 = no

If you answered yes, which were the main changes you introduced _______________

_______________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________

_
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5 Never used zero till

Do you know anything about zero till? (333)
1 = yes, 2 = no

If you know about it, in which year did you learn about it? (334)

If you know about zero till, how did you learn about it? (335)
1 = neighbor, 2 = relative, 3 = another farmer (not related), 4 = herbicide seller,5 = researcher 6 = extension agent,
7 = field day (organized by ________________),89 = radio, 9 = other means, 99 = N/A

If you know about zero till, what would you require to use it? _____________________

_______________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________
_

If you know about zero till, how important are the following reasons for your decision not to adopt
zero till?
(1 = very important, 2 = important, 3 = not important)
Cannot control weeds (336)
The herbicide is too expensive (337)
Do not have access to contract planting timely or it is too expensive (338)
Cannot maintain the soil covering of seed (339)
Drill is not available (340)
Cannot manage the residues properly (341)
Cannot control pests (342)
Soil is too compact (343)
It is too difficult (344)
Cannot get adequate advice (345)
Required additional work (346)
It does not work on my soil (347)
It is not good for the crops I grow (348)
Zero till requires more cash than what I invest today in agriculture (349)
Other (explain) ____________________________ (350)

Did you ever try to simplify soil preparation? (351)

1 = yes, 2 = no

Have you visited other farmers who use zero till? (352)
1 = yes, 2 = no
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Could you find access to technical advice about zero till? (353)
1 = yes, 2 = no, they do not talk to farmers like me, 3 = I don’t know where to find it

Are you concerned of what your neighbors might say about you if you started to use (354)
zero till?
1 = yes, 2 = no

In the last 3 years, have you changed your agricultural practices? (363)
1 = yes, 2 = no

If you answered yes, which were the main changes you introduced _______________

_______________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________
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6 Information about respondent (for all farmers)

What are your main sources of agricultural information? (364) (365) (366) (367) (368)

1 =research 2 = extension agent, 3 = other farmer, 4 = herbicide seller, 5 = seed seller, 6 = pesticide distributor,
7 = leaflets, 8 = radio, 9 = field days, 10 = none

How often do you talk to an extension/research agent about agriculture? (369)

1 =at least once a week, 2 = once every 2 weeks, 3 = once a month, 4 = once a quarter, 5 = once every six
months, 6 = once a year, 7 = when I have a problem, 8 = never

How many field days have you been to in the last 2 years? (370)

How many training courses have you been to in the last 2 years? (371)

Do you use in your field anything you learn in a field day or course? (372)
1 = yes, 2 = no

5. Do you usually come up with new things to try in your field? (373)
1 = yes, 2 = no

Did you ever try to simplify soil preparation, i.e., reduce the number of operations (do (374)
not consider zero till)?
1 = yes, 2 = no

Gender (375)
1 = male, 2 = female

Age (376)

Years of schooling (377)

Marital status (378)

1 = married, 2 = single, 3 = widowed, 4 = divorced

Residence status (379)

1 = native, 2 = settler

6. Number of people in your household

Adult males (380) Adult females (381) Children under 16 (382)

Does your house have electricity? (383)

1 = yes, 2 = no

Does your house have water? (384)

1 = yes, 2 = no

How many do you own of the following?

Bicycles (385) Cattle (390)
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Motorcycles (386) Pigs (391)

Vehicles (387) Sheep/goats (392)
Tractors Bullocks (393)
Threshers Chicken (394)

7 Information about village

Please indicate if your village has the following infrastructure
(1 = yes, 2 = no):
Electricity (395) Pipe-borne water (400)
Tarred road (396) Market for farm (401)
produce
Good feeder road (397) Health post (402)
Easy transportation (398) Primary school (403)
Agro-input shop (399) Extension agent (404)

(405)
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For key respondents

8. Price information from key respondents

Fertilizer Rs/50kg: Urea _______DAP ________MP _______AS _______CAN ________

SSP_________ Complex_________Zinc________Other____________________

Diesel Fuel: _______________per liter

Seed Rs/50kg: Wheat for planting______Rice for planting_______ Wheat at harvest _______

Rice at harvest _____

Machinery in Rs: Zero-till drill _________Rabi Drill _________9-tyne cultivator_________

Disc Harrow _______ Plank ____________ Thresher ___________ Combine ______________

Tractor _____________ Pair bullocks _____________Pair Buffalo _________Other ________

Herbicide Rs/liter: Isoproturon ________ Puma ______ Topic ______ Leader__________

Sencor _________ 2,4-D _________ Grasp __________ Other _____________________

Labor Rs/day: Ploughing_________ Weeding ________ Harvesting _________

Threshing___________ Transplanting __________ Uprooting _________ Zero till _________