Publications

Laser land leveling has been increasingly adopted in the irrigated
rice (Oryza sativa L.)–wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cropping
system in the state of Haryana (India), located in the
north-western Indo-Gangetic Plains. Still, many farmers have
applied it to only a fraction of their land. In this study, we used
data collected from 621 farm households in Haryana and
applied a double-hurdle model for assessing the factors that
determine the adoption and intensity of laser-leveling technology.
The results show that large land holders are more likely to
laser level their farm land; however, we found a negative
association between land holdings and the proportion of
laser-leveled land. Information about technology through
farmer-to-farmer communication and through private traders,
participation in agricultural training and membership in local
agricultural institutions increased both the likelihood and the
intensity of adoption. Our findings call for a closer collaboration
among the various stakeholders, specifically to promote
farmer-to-farmer communication through increased participation
in local institutions and increase the rate of adoption of
laser leveling technology.