No abstract

The study focused on the constraints faced by farmers of Haryana state in adoption of masumbi (Citrus sinensis) cultivation. The study was conducted in Bhiwani district. The constraints as perceived by the respondents were measured by the scores on the basis of magnitude of the problems. Constraints were categorized into inputs, marketing, production, technical and psychologicalconstraints. While analyzing overall constraints as perceived by farmers the findings revealed that high price of insecticides/pesticides (weighted mean score 2.25), non-availability of inputs at proper time (1.13), absence of agro-processing units (2.05), no support price (1.86), aberrant climatic conditions (1.99), unawareness about proper and balanced fertilizer application and time of application (1.99), lack of guidance of post-harvest technology (1.95), lack of knowledge of current advances in fruit cultivation (1.34), longer time taken in fruit bearing (1.51) and orchard maintenance(1.34) etc. were major constraints faced by the farmers.

Information and communication technology (ICT) aids provide up-to-date information on the market prices of commodities, inputs and consumer trends which ultimately can improve a farmer's negotiating position and their livelihood. Major aspect of ICT is that accurate information should reach the farmers at the right time to make more sustainable use of on-farm resources. Now the question arises that how this information can be disseminated to such a diverse group of the farming community. ICT is going to play greater role in agricultural extension as well as private sector agribusiness, market information and market intelligence. Here this paper review the role of ICT not only in providing greater awareness and knowledge in agriculture technology and information but also in terms of farmer's attitudes towards trying to adopt new technologies.

It is globally accepted that adoption of smart agricultural practices (SAPs) are only alternate to feed the continuous increasing population of the world. The purpose of this study was to identify the constraints faced by farmers in adoption of smart agricultural practices in Haryana. Study was carried out (2017) in Hisar and Kaithal districts of Haryana state of India. Data were collected with the help of well-structured and pre-tested questionnaire. A sample of 180 respondents were explored in personal interviews using a three-point continuum scale for the constraints i.e. very serious, serious and not so serious and scores were given as 3, 2 and 1, respectively. Data were analysed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS). Present study concluded that major constraints for SAPs were lack of seeds of new high yielding varieties with weighted mean score (WMS) 2.36, lack of knowledge for seed treatment (2.36), lack of farm equipment (2.30), inadequate information (2.92), inadequate knowledge and (2.92), scarcity of canal water (2.61), lack of minimum support price (2.73), all crops not covered under crop insurance (2.69), and nonavailability of good animal breed (2.19). Moreover, 11 independent variables included in the study jointly contributed 44% variation in the constraints of the respondents regarding in adoption of SAPs.

The empirical study on prospects of Citrus sinensis cultivation by farmers indicated that overall prospects of masumbi (C. sinensis) crop were medium to high since 77.5% respondents belonged to these categories. Majority of respondents agreed that better market facilities (weighted mean score 2.72), increased purchasing power of people (2.65), better fruit quality (2.62), better economic return (2.53) and increase in demand of fruit were the major prospective aspects for its wider adoption (2.53), whereas better technical support (1.20) and better credit facilities (1.08) both were not up to the desired level as expressed by the farmers. So the government should make concerted efforts to further strengthen the highly prospective aspects like better marketing facilities, cultivars of better quality fruits at farm gate or village level. On the basis of result obtained, the prospects of masumbi (C. sinensis) cultivation may be high in future.