Issues and Preferences of Horticultural Farmers.

Abstract

A national farmers meet (NFM) was organized by Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and Tamil Nadu Agricultual University (TNAU) at regional Station (RRS), paiyur, Tamil Nadu on 14.3.2015. the purpose was to Sensitize the farmers about issues of horticulture farmers of Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andhra pradesh & Kerala. A breif survey was conducted at NFM with horticulture farmers as respondents (60) through a structured questionnaire. Analysis of the survey data indicated that Mango, Tomato & MArigold are the Major fruit, vegetable & ornamental crops cultivated respectively. Non-availability of critical inputs such as fertilizers, seeds/ planting material and lack of remunarative market price are the major issues in contemporary horticulture, apart from unawareness towards improved horticulture production technologies. Field demonstrations and off campus training programmes are two major extension interventions preferred by the horticulture farmers: whereas mass media channels are preferred as information source apart from institutional sources such as development departments and research institutes. Appropriate extension strategies are suggested based on the findings of the survey.