In order to better understand the barriers to protected cultivation among growers of horticultural crops for the agricultural year 2019–20, a study was undertaken in Karnataka. Survey was conducted by well-designed questionnaires. Protected cultivation offers immense promise and opportunities to Indian farmers and the country to address the challenges of increasing productivity of agriculture and income of farmers. The declining land size of Indian farmers has further necessitated the adoption of these technologies. In this context, the study was conducted to assess performance of growers under protected cultivation and constraints in adoption along with strategies for removal of constraints will result in extending the area under protected cultivation. The perishable nature of vegetables, lack of irrigation water, lack of scientific knowledge of advanced production techniques, lack of planting material availability at the right time, high cost of skilled labour, labour shortages during peak seasons, high initial investment in construction of poly houses, high cost of planting material, market price volatility, and lack of marketing facilities at local locations were the main obstacles for farmers in harnessing this technology. All parties involved concurred that research and development projects were necessary to provide low-cost designs and lower the price of cultivation in polyhouse. Its profitability and sustainability would also depend on how well farmers could adapt this technology to their socioeconomic and agroecological circumstances.

Horticulture, Protected cultivation, Constraints, Suggestions, Karnataka

The adoption of protected cultivation technologies by various categories of farmers (marginal, small, medium and large) needs to be studied carefully and thoroughly. The suitability of technology and the assistance by government in the form of credit and subsidies needs to be scientifically established based on such studies. The studies can be conducted to understand the differential growth and development of protected cultivation technologies in different countries or states especially the ones which have highest area under protected cultivation. The economics of crop production under protected cultivation in different states can be studied. The financial viability and sustainability of protected cultivation technologies on the farms of different categories of farmers without the assistance of subsidy needs critical examination. There is a lot of potential for increasing the area under low cost greenhouses manifold in peri-urban areas of the state as well as country for production of high value vegetables and flowers during off-season to take benefit of the high price of the produce. Similar research studies can be taken up in other states as well as in other districts which are also emerging as hub for protected cultivation.

Rajesh C.M. and Shivalingaiah Y.N. (2022). An Analysis of Constraints in Adoption and Strategies to Promote the Protected Cultivation Among the Horticulture Crop Growers. Biological Forum – An International Journal, 14(4a): 343-349.