Constraints experienced in commercial vegetable production by growers of Assam

Abstract

India is the second-largest vegetable producer in the world after China. However, there is a discrepancy between current output and productivity potential as vegetable growers are discouraged by a number of constraints. Therefore, the current study was conducted in Golaghat and Udalguri districts of Assam during 2021-2022 to figure out the numerous challenges experienced by the small and marginal vegetable growers. The study completely depends on primary data, which was gathered through the personal interview method with the help of a structured schedule on a sample of 20 numbers of growers from each of six vegetable growing villages of two districts, which makes a total of 240 numbers of respondents. Garrett’s ranking technique was employed to analyze the data. Investigations were made relating to constraints associated with technical, labor, economic, marketing and environmental. The study revealed that lack of suitable varieties in every season as a major technical constraint with Garrett score (78.95), non-availability of labor during harvesting period (59.07) as labor constraint, High cost of quality seeds (65.89) as an economic constraint, Perishable nature of product (68.15) as marketing constraint and lastly insects and pests attack (63.22) as environmental constraint are being claimed by the small and marginal vegetable growers. Hence, there is a need for the provision of cold storage facilities, the establishment of more agro-processing units and advanced research on gene mutations to delay fruit ripening, etc., to promote Indian vegetables and make them globally competitive.