Personal, Socio-Economic and Psychological Characteristics of Horticulture Crop Growers and their Association with Cognitive, Perception and Adoption Level

Author: Sai Tejashree G., Y. N. Shivalingaiah, Siddayya, K. P. Raghuprasad and Sagar S. Pujar

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Abstract

India is one of the leading producers of fruits and vegetables and ranks second in fruits and vegetable production globally. It is gaining importance in recent decades and contributes 38 per cent to India’s agricultural GDP from 16 per cent cropped area with a share of nearly 35 per cent of total exports of agricultural commodities of the country. The present study was conducted in Chikkaballapur and Kolar districts of eastern dry zone of Karnataka in the year 2021-2022 to study the personal, socio-economic and psychological characteristics of horticulture crop growers and their association with cognition level, perception and adoption level with a total sample size of 120 growers. Ex-post facto research design was adopted. Data was collected by using pre-tested personal interview method. Further, appropriate statistical tools were employed to analyse the collected data. The study revealed that, more than half (64.17 %) of the horticulture crop growers belonged to middle age. Nearly, one-third (30.00 %) of the horticulture crop growers had primary school education. More than two-third (68.33 %) of horticulture crop growers had medium family size. Nearly, two-fifth (38.33 %) of the horticulture crop growers were marginal farmers. 67.50 per cent of the growers belonged to high level of annual income (i.e., > 6,66,000). Whereas, majority of the horticulture crop growers had a medium level of experience in precision farming (42.50 %), area under precision farming (59.17 %), farm power possession (40.83 %), extension participation (40.00 %), social recognition (40.83 %), mass media exposure (37.50 %), extension contact (44.17 %), economic motivation (42.50 %), risk bearing ability (41.67 %), innovativeness (45.00 %). Further age, family size, landholding, annual income, area under precision farming, farm power possession, social recognition, risk bearing ability and innovativeness had non-significant association with cognitive level at 5 per cent level of significance.

Keywords

Personal, socio-economic, association, Cognitive, Perception and Adoption Level

Conclusion

India being one of the leading agricultural producers globally has the largest arable lands worldwide, with over 155 million hectares. In the wake of climate change, depletion of natural resources and an imminent food crisis, India must move beyond aggressive farming i.e., should practice precision farming which can reverse the aftermaths of the Green Revolution and usher in an era of Evergreen Revolution. Rapid socio-economic changes in India, is creating ample of opportunities for the application of precision farming. Indian farmers based on their socio-economic situation should adopt technologies which are sustainable in practicing, intensifying productivity, and augment farm income. Precision farming can influence a paradigm shift in obsolete and aggressive farming practices to digitally transformed agricultural practices to feed an ever-growing global population.

References

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How to cite this article

Sai Tejashree G., Y. N. Shivalingaiah, Siddayya, K. P. Raghuprasad and Sagar S. Pujar (2023). Personal, Socio-Economic and Psychological Characteristics of Horticulture Crop Growers and their Association with Cognitive, Perception and Adoption Level. Biological Forum – An International Journal, 15(7): 164-171.