Constraints Faced by the Groundnut Growers in Adoption of Cluster Frontline Demonstration of Villupuram District

Abstract

India is one of the largest producers of oilseeds in the world and occupies an important position in the Indian agricultural economy. The productivity of groundnut farming is currently declining due to pest and disease attacks, use of old and traditional low-yielding varieties. To tackle the issues demonstrations on cluster mode are essential. Cluster Frontline Demonstration (CFLD) is conducted by Subject Matter Specialists (SMSs) and scientists in a systemic manner on selected farmers field to spread the new variety and groundnut production technologies. The ICAR- KVK, Tindivanam had organized CFLDs on groundnut crop in two villages viz., Nolambur and Kilmavilangai. Therefore, the study aimed to know the profile characteristics of CFLD beneficiary farmers and to encounter the major constraints faced by groundnut growers. To get an adequate sample size, 60 CFLD beneficiaries were selected randomly for the present study. The data were collected by using a pre-tested interview schedule. Garrett’s ranking technique and percentage analysis were used to analyze the data for meaning interpretation. The majority of beneficiaries belonged to middle age category (61.66%), majority of male beneficiaries (80.00%), educated upto middle school (40.00%), land holdings of 1 to 2 ha (68.33%) as small land, 20- 30 years of farming experience in oilseeds (80.00%), participated in one training (66.67%), medium level of extension agency contact (66.67%) and mass media exposure (56.67%), 55 per cent of farmers were adopted new practices after the successful adoption of other members. The major constraints include poor labour availability, poor transport facilities, lack of proper marketing channels and lack of technical knowledge. Hence, CFLD showed that medium to high level profile characteristics and improved adoption of new technologies.