Constraints and suggestions as expressed by Redgram farmers for low productivity in Ananthapur district of Andhra Pradesh

Abstract

India is the world’s top producer and consumer of pulses. A purposive and random sampling technique was used for the study and conducted in KVK operated mandals of Anantapur district. Six mandals of KVK operational area were selected purposively where Cluster Front-Line Demonstrations were conducted and from each mandal 20 farmers were selected randomly, thus making a total of 120 respondents for this study. An ex-post facto research design was used and the data were collected by interview method and enquired about the constraints faced by them for low redgram productivity and queried suggestions to overcome the constraints faced by them. From the study, it was revealed that major constraints of the farmers faced were uncertainty in rainfall during crop growth period (95%) followed by lack of irrigation facility (85%) and low production due to pest and disease infestation (85%), shortage of labour during critical stages (82.5%) and High price of herbicide/fungicide/Pesticide (80%) as reported by the farmers. Among the suggestions offered by farmers it was the provision of inputs at subsidized rates (92.5%) ranked first followed by development of Short duration varieties resistant to pest and diseases. (87.5%) ranked second and assured market and remunerative prices for redgram particularly during drought (80%) ranked third.