Perception of Horticultural Students towards Awareness and Preference of Self-Employment Avenues

Abstract

This study was conducted during October-November 2016 by purposively selecting B Sc Horticulture Students from two colleges namely College of Horticulture, Hiriyur, University of Agricultural and Horticultural Sciences, Shimoga and College of Horticulture, Kolar, University of Horticultural Sciences, Bagalkot. A total of 112 students from these colleges constituted the sample for this study. The study focused on perception of students on awareness and preference of self-employment avenues in horticultural sector. It was evident from the results that most of the students are fully aware of ‘nursery management’, ‘processing of fruits and vegetables’, ‘cut flower production / high-tech floriculture’, ‘landscape consultancy’, ‘ornamental plants propagation’, ‘indoor gardening’, ‘horticulture clinic, nursery, landscaping, floriculture’ and ‘vegetable production and marketing’ for self-employment. Most of the respondents preferred (the areas of their choice of self-employment such as)‘nursery management’, ‘seed production and processing unit’, ‘processing of fruits and vegetables’ ‘cut flower production/high-tech floriculture’, ‘landscape consultancy’, ‘value addition centres’, ‘horticulture clinic- nursery, landscaping, floriculture’ and ‘vegetable production and marketing’ as self-employment avenue. It is supported that the agricultural and horticultural colleges should focus and strengthen these areas through more and more hands on experience activities as well as field visits.