A Study on Profile and Constraints Faced by National Horticulture Mission Beneficiaries in Davanagere District of Karnataka

The study was conducted in three taluks of Davanagere district. Four villages were selected from each taluk, in consultation with In all 72 National Horticulture Mission beneficiaries, spread across 3 taluks from 12 villages were randomly selected. The data was collected through personal interview method, using structured interview schedule. The results reveal that, majority (65.28%) of NHM beneficiaries belonged to old age category, 26.38 percent had education up to high school, equally distributed in case of family size, namely small, medium and big. Horticulture farming experience of NHM beneficiaries reveals that, majority (45.83%) had experience, between 11 to 20 years followed by 23.61 percent less than 10 years, 12.50 percent 21 to 30 years, 9.72 percent 31 to 40 years and only 8.34 percent had experience of above 41 years. Neighbours and NHM personnel are the major sources of information consulted by NHM beneficiaries. Mass media participation of NHM beneficiaries reveals that, majority (58.34%) of them never listen radio, on the other hand 91.66 % of the participants view television. The extension contact of NHM beneficiaries identifies that, Agricultural Assistants (94.43%), Assistant Agricultural Officer (88.88%), Agriculture Officer (88.88%), Horticulture Assistant (94.43%) and Assistant Horticulture Officer (94.43%) were consulted either regularly or occasionally. The extension participation of beneficiaries reveals that majority participated in field visit (100%), group meeting (100%), krishimela (98.62%), trainings (94.45%), farm and home visit (91.66%) and field days (76.38%). The NHM programme in district from 2007 to 2016 has resulted increase in area of banana and arecanut to the extent 134.17% and 69.99%, respectively. Poor follow up of activities under NHM by personnel (54.16 %), subsidies under NHM are less for different activities (52.77 %) and less number of trainings conducted under NHM to impart technical knowledge (41.66 %) are the major constraints expressed by NHM beneficiaries.