Adoption Behaviour of Farmers towards Recommended Onion Production Technologies in Zone-III of Karnataka

Abstract

Onion (Allium cepa L.) is a commercially significant vegetable crop in Karnataka, where productivity is strongly influenced by the extent to which farmers adopt recommended production technologies. The present investigation was carried out during 2023–24 in Zone-III of Karnataka, specifically in Dharwad and Gadag districts, with the objective of assessing the adoption behaviour of onion growers with respect to recommended onion production practices. An ex-post facto research design was followed, and 120 onion farmers were selected through simple random sampling from major onion-growing taluks and villages. Primary data were collected using a pre-tested structured interview schedule covering socio-economic characteristics and adoption of recommended practices related to soil management, improved varieties, nutrient management, pest and disease control, irrigation, harvesting and yield. The collected data were analysed using descriptive statistical tools such as frequency, percentage, mean and standard deviation. The findings indicated that a majority of the respondents (39.18%) belonged to the medium adoption category, followed by high (31.66%) and low (29.16%) adoption categories. Higher adoption levels were observed for conventional practices such as soil selection, ploughing, weeding and irrigation management, whereas comparatively lower adoption was recorded for seed treatment, use of plant growth regulators, micronutrient application and biological pest control measures. Partial adoption of fertilizer and weed management practices was predominant. The study reveals notable gaps between recommended technologies and their actual field-level adoption, highlighting the need for strengthened extension interventions, capacity-building initiatives and improved access to quality inputs to enhance onion productivity and farm income in the study area.