Present Status of the Vegetable Production Technology in Kullu Valley of Himachal Pradesh

Abstract

This study was conducted in Kullu district of Himachal Pradesh to know the status of adoption of the vegetable production technology by the vegetable producers and to find out the constraints faced by them in the adoption of improved vegetable production technology. From the comprehensive list of farmers of 20 villages, 30 farmers (Small, Medium and Large) from each village were selected randomly. Thus, 600 farmers were included in this study. The majority of the vegetable producers fell under the partial adoption category like the use of fungicides/insecticides (57.50%), application of fertilizers (50.00%), preparation of soil (48.33%), seed rates (47.33%) and harvesting of crops (34.83%). Most of the vegetable growers (72.17%) belonged to low level of adoption of vegetable production technology. However, 23.67 per cent vegetable growers had a medium level of adoption. A mere (4.17%) vegetable growers fall under high adoption level group. Regarding constraints majority (92.50%) of vegetable growers expressed the constraints of non-availability of labours as required followed by the high cost of seed (87.50%), high cost of fertilizers (85.00%) and lack of knowledge about vegetable production technology (78.33%).