Agriculture is dependent on nature but appropriate interventions at critical stages of crop can yield good harvest. The study was conducted in East Godavari district of Andhra Pradesh state. Three mandals viz., Kirlampudi, Peddapuram, Kajuluru were selected using simple random sampling procedure. A total sample of 135 were selected for the study. Knowledge and adoption of critical interventions in rice cultivation by the tenant farmers, owners cum tenant farmers and owner farmers was studied. Majority of the tenant farmers had low (80.00%) knowledge on critical interventions in rice cultivation, followed by medium (15.56%) and high (4.44%) knowledge. More than two-third of the owner cum tenant farmers had medium (66.67%) knowledge on critical interventions in cultivation, followed by high (17.78%) and low (15.56%) knowledge. More than three-fourth of the owner farmers had high (75.56%) knowledge on critical interventions in cultivation, followed by medium (15.56%) and low (8.89%) knowledge. Friedman test statistic and chi-square value for the knowledge levels of the respondents inferred that there is a significant difference in knowledge levels between different groups. Adoption is based on the knowledge level. Friedman test statistic and chi-square value inferred that there is a significant difference in adoption levels between different groups.

Keyword: Tenant farmer; Owner cum tenant farmer; Owner farmer; Knowledge; Adoption.