Determinants of Adoption of Improved Varieties by Groundnut Farmers in Ananthapuramu District, Andhra Pradesh, India

Abstract

Agriculture remains a cornerstone of the Indian economy, contributing nearly 18 per cent to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and providing livelihood support to around 46 per cent of the national workforce. Despite its significance, the sector continues to face persistent production and marketing challenges, particularly among small and marginal farmers. Groundnut cultivation, being an important oilseed crop in India, requires the adoption of improved varieties to enhance productivity, resilience and profitability. The study aims to determine the factors influencing the adoption of improved varieties for groundnut farmers. The study was based on both primary and secondary data. A multistage sampling technique was employed for the selection of respondents. Three mandals having the highest number of functional FPOs were selected, followed by the selection of two villages from each mandal based on maximum FPO membership. From each selected village, 20 farmers comprising 10 FPO members and 10 non-FPO farmers were selected randomly, constituting a total sample of 120 respondents. Primary data were collected through a well-structured and pre-tested interview schedule, while secondary data were gathered from government records, journals and publications. Comparative analysis between adopters and non-adopters indicated significant differences in institutional variables such as training received, access to credit, availability of inputs and FPO membership. About 89 per cent of adopters had received agricultural training compared to only 23 per cent of non-adopters, while 91 per cent of adopters were FPO members compared to 17 per cent among non-adopters. The study concludes that institutional support mechanisms, particularly FPO membership, training services and efficient input delivery systems, play a critical role in enhancing the adoption of improved agricultural technologies among groundnut farmers.