Perception of farming problems and demographics: A study of pomegranate growers in Kullu district of Himachal Pradesh

Abstract

Farming is beset with many problems and it was hypothesised that higher knowledge and capabilities on part of the farmers by way of education and experience would enable them cope with the challenges/ problems in a better way. A sample of 60 pomegranate farmers from Bhunter Tehsil was studied for this exploratory study. Primary data was collected by way of structured questionnaires with questions that related to perception of problems faced by the farmers and demographic data of the farmers. Spearman’s correlation analysis was used to test the hypothesis about the relationship between education and age of farmers on one hand and perception of problems on the other hand. It was found that farmers with higher education perceived marketing problems to be less severe and farmers in higher age group saw labour and marketing problem to be less daunting. In this context the study suggests methods for enabling farmers.