Vol. 12, Issue 1 (2023)

Author(s):
Hiwarale AS, Manvar VS, Kadam RP, Hadolikar SB and Gohade GR

Abstract:
The present study was conducted on "Technological gap in adoption of recommended cultivation practices of Sweet orange growers" to find out the relationship between profile of sweet orange growers with extent of technological gap in adoption of recommended cultivation practices. The present study was purposively conducted in Jalna district of Marathwada region in 2021-22. The study was conducted in purposively selected Jalna, Ghansawangi and Ambad taluka. The sample constituted 120 sweet orange growers from 12 villages. Ex-post facto research design was used for present study. Data from the respondents were collected by personally interviewing with the help of structured and pretested interview schedule. Collected data were classified, tabulated and analyzed by using statistical methods or tools like frequency, percentage, mean, standard deviation and correlation of coefficient. Among the 120 selected sweet orange grower’s majority i.e., more than half (67.50%) of sweet orange growers have medium farming experience, 37.50 per cent of the sweet orange growers were educated up to Secondary school level. It was reported that, less than half of the sweet orange growers 41.67 per cent possessed semi medium category of land holding. The findings also indicated that 80.83 per cent possessed small size of orchard up to 2 ha. Maximum percentage of sweet orange growers i.e., 79.17 per cent belonging to medium annual income Category, 55.83 per cent of the sweet orange growers belonged to medium extension contact category. It is revealed that 61.67 per cent of the sweet orange growers had medium level of sources of information. Majority i.e., 65.83 per cent of the sweet orange growers were having medium level of risk orientation. More than half of the sweet orange growers 63.33 per cent belong to medium social participation category. More than half i.e., 60.83 per cent of the sweet orange xiv growers had medium level market orientation. The results of correlation of coefficient (r) showed that the independent variable namely farming experience of sweet orange growers was positively and significant relationship with technological gap in adoption of recommended cultivation practices of sweet orange. Variables like education, land holding, orchard size, annual income, extension contact, sources of information, risk orientation, social participation and market orientation has negatively and significant relationship with technological gap in adoption of recommended sweet cultivation practices of sweet orange.