1.

INTRODUCTION
Guar, also known as cluster bean, is an annual legume crop that provides a natural source of hydrocolloid (substance that forms thick solutions at low concentrations with water). Cluster bean plant is bushy rough to touch, and has the ability to dwell even in drought like conditions. It has small purple flower, pointed leaves and ranges from 2-9 feet in height. It is consumed as a bean, livestock feed and also in the form of green manure in the fields. The seeds of the Cluster bean plant have three parts i.e. the germ, the endosperm and the husk. The popular Cluster bean gum, which is used in mining, petroleum drilling and textile manufacturing sectors, is obtained from the endosperm of the seed. The gum is refined to make a yellowish white powder and is consumed worldwide in this powder form only. The powder made after refining the gum obtained from the plant makes an important raw material in many industries. This powder has some unique characteristics like grease resistance, thickening agent, capacity to bind water, high viscosity and the capability to function in low temperatures which makes it highly popular in these sectors. Among other by products of Cluster bean, Cluster bean gum powder is the main marketable commodity. The world's total production of Cluster bean figures around 7.5 to 10 lakh tons every year. India is a leading producer of this crop. The consumption pattern of Cluster bean seed is largely influenced by the demands from the petroleum industry of United States of America and the oil fields in the Middle East as the derivative products of these seeds are quite useful in the petroleum drilling industries. United States alone has a demand of around 40 thousand tons of Cluster bean and its derivatives. Also, in rest of the world, the trend of consumption has increased with time and has lead to the introduction of this crop in many countries.

The world market of Cluster bean is estimated at 1.5 lakhs tons annually. The major importer of the crop are: Canada, Brazil, China, Germany, Chile, Italy, Australia, Japan, Austria and United Kingdom. Cluster bean is basically a crop that is cultivated mostly in the arid and semi-arid areas as it is drought resistant. That is why the Southern Asian continent is suitable for the cultivation of this crop especially the Indian subcontinent. India produces 600000 lakh tons of Cluster bean annually i.e. the maximum level of production in the world. It contributes to around 80 per cent share in the world's Cluster bean total production. The major regions producing this crop in India are Rajasthan, Gujarat, Haryana, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra and Karnataka. Rajasthan is the largest Cluster bean producing state in India as it dominates the Indian production scenario contributing to around 420000 tons of this crop i.e. over 70 per cent of the total production in India. In Rajasthan, the Cluster bean producing districts are Churu, Jaipur, Bikaner, Jaisalmer, Barmer, Nagaur, Hanuman Garh, Jodhpur, Ganganagar, Sirohi, Dausa, Jhunjhunu and Sikar. The climatic conditions of the district is most suitable for cultivation of cluster bean but the productivity of this crop is far below than desired level. Thus, there is an urgent need to conduct a systematic study to assess the knowledge, adoption, opinion and constraints faced by the farmers in cultivation of cluster bean. Keeping the above facts in view the present study entitled Knowledge and Adoption of improved cluster bean production technology by the farmers in Jaipur district of Rajasthan was undertaken with the following specific objectives:

1.1 Objectives 1. To assess the knowledge of farmers regarding improved Cluster bean cultivation practices. 2. To study the extent of adoption of recommended Cluster bean cultivation practices among the farmers. 3. 4. To study the opinion of farmers towards Cluster bean cultivation. To identify the constraints faced by the farmers in adoption of improved Cluster bean production technology. 5. To suggest suitable strategy for increasing Cluster bean production in the study area. 1.2 Scope and importance of the study Cluster bean is used as a vegetable for human consumption and the crop is also grown for cattle feed and as a green manure crop is grown for a lower grade gum, which is used in cloth and paper manufacture, oil well drilling muds, explosives, flotation, and industrial application Cluster bean plays a significant role in agriculture due to its nature of fodder and grain and it plays a vital role in industries. Unfortunately the studies on Cluster bean crop are scanty and as such not much research is available. The present study is aimed at studying the knowledge and adoption of Cluster bean production technology by the farmers in the study area. The result of the study will shed light on the farmers level of knowledge and consequent adoption of the technology including the farmers opinion towards the Cluster bean cultivation and constraints faced in its cultivation. The study of level of knowledge possessed by the farmers will throw light on farmers knowledge about cluster bean cultivation technology. The findings about level of adoption of farmers will also highlight the utility of the knowledge about improved cluster bean cultivation practices.

The results regarding opinion of farmers towards cultivation of cluster bean will reveal the view of farmers about importance of cluster bean crop and other crops being grown in the study area. Future line of actions would be chalked out in line with the findings regarding the opinion of farmers towards cultivation of cluster bean. Finally, the constraints perceived by the respondents in adoption of cluster bean cultivation technology will be of immense value to the agencies involved in popularizing the cluster bean as a pulse crop in the country. The results of the study will be useful for department of agriculture, NGOs and other agencies working for promotion of Cluster bean crop in the study area by enabling them to modify their approaches and strategies of promotion. 1.3 Assumptions Following are the assumptions of the study: (i) It is assumed that cluster bean growers knew the importance and have knowledge about cluster bean cultivation technology. (ii) It is also assumed that respondents might have adopted certain cluster bean production practices. (iii) It is assumed that respondents might possess favourable opinion towards improved cluster bean cultivation technology. (iv) It is assumed that cluster bean growers are confronted with certain constraints in adoption of cluster bean production technology. 1.4 Limitations of the Study All the possible efforts have been made to make the study more meaningful and precise, but due to paucity of time at the disposal of investigator, certain limitations remain in the study which are as follows: (i) The present study is confined to only two tehsils namely, Choumu and Amer in Jaipur district of Rajasthan. (ii) The study is confined to only 10 villages from both the identified tehsils.

(iii)

The findings are based on verbal expressions and responses of the respondents.

(iv)

As usual, the results of the study are based on small size of study sample and as such the results cannot be generalized for the large area of the state or the nation.

1.5 1.

Operational Definitions of the terms used General Information: It refers to the handling and curtailing of information received according to the needs of the receivers or it is all that is done to the received information before it is put to actual use.

2.

Knowledge: Knowledge is the body of understood information possessed by an individual. In the present study, knowledge is referred to the amount of understood information an individual possesses with regard to improved cultivation technology of cluster bean.

3.

Adoption: It is a decision to make full use of new ideas as the best course of action available. The term in the study was used to refer to the use of improved practices of cluster bean by the respondents either fully or partially.

4.

Opinion: Opinion is the degree of positive or negative feeling associated with some psychological objects. Opinion in the context of present study may be conceptualized as the attitude, belief, feeling and answers to the priority formulated quarries by the cluster bean growers of the study area regarding cluster bean cultivation technology.

5.

Constraints: Constraints imply forcible restriction and confinement of action. In this study, constraints mean impediments as perceived by the respondents in adoption of improved cluster bean cultivation technology.

6.

Education: Education is the process of bringing desirable change into the behaviour of human being.

7.

Land holding: The area of land which is actually cultivated by the farmer and his family.

8.

Extension personnel: All the people whether working in government or non-government organization who deals with transfer of crop production technologies in the study area.

9.

Non-government organization: A non-government organization which is independent in its administration and working. It receives funds from government or other national/international donating agencies to run its activities.