Analysis of constraints experienced by turmeric growers while using biomix and their suggestions

Introduction

Turmeric is an important spice grown in India since ancient times. It is referred as Indian saffron and commonly called as Haldi/Halad. India is the largest producer, consumer and exporter of turmeric in the world. Turmeric is a flowering plant, Curcuma longa, of the ginger family, Zingiberaceae, the rhizomes of which are used in cooking. The plant is a perennial, rhizomatous, herbaceous plant native to the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia. According to the Directorate of Agriculture, Maharashtra (2023), the state's annual turmeric production stands at approximately 3.8 lakh tonnes. Districts like Sangli, Satara, Kolhapur, Hingoli, Nanded, Amravati and Buldhana are prominent turmeric producers. (agritimes.co.in) In 2005, Prof. Dr. V.T. Jadhav created an experimental product for managing citrus decline and introduced biocontrol to the Marathwada region (at VNMKV, Parbhani). He called it "Biomix," which is a combination of P. fluoroscens and Trichoderma spp. Biomix was created by incorporating certain biofungicides, biopesticides, and growth-promoting bioagents, taking into account the turmeric's performance, literature, and issues. All of turmeric's significant issues were resolved by this product. Biomix was made with a combination of growth-promoting bioagents, biofungicides, and biopesticides. The Department of Plant Pathology introduced biocontrol to the Marathwada region in 2005 and developed an experimental product for managing citrus decline, called it "Biomix" (a combination of P. fluoroscens and Trichoderma spp.). Biopesticides and biofertilizers are mixed with an organic product called biomix. The primary characteristic of Biomix is its ability to function as a fungicide, insecticide, and so forth. The Biomix is thought to be a viable substitute for chemical pesticides in terms of enhancing germination and providing plant protection for long-term agricultural productivity. Aspergillus niger, of the specific species of microbes that make up Biomix, a unique and well-balanced blend. Given the extent of losses at the farm level, it is clear that, in order to reduce losses, control measure techniques including the use of biomix in turmeric crop cultivation must be used. Therefore, it's important to gather data on farmers' attitudes towards using biomix, identify the many problems they run into when using it, and offer some suggestions. The present study was designed to analyze the constraints and suggestions experienced by turmeric growers while using biomix.

Methodology

The present study was conducted with the main objective to know the constraints faced by turmeric growers while using biomix and to obtain their suggestions. The study was conducted in Parbhani and Hingoli district of Marathwada region of Maharashtra. Two tehsils, Parbhani from Parbhani district and Basmat from Hingoli district selected. Six villages from each tehsil/mandal were chosen with a significant number of turmeric growers using biomix, and ten respondents were chosen at purposively from each village that was considered, making the sample size 120. The data was collected by personal interview and "ex-postfacto" research design was used for conducting the study.

The collected data was processed and statistically analyzed by using statistical tools like frequency and percentage, mean, standard deviation and coefficient of correlation. The independent variables were education, size of family, farming experience, knowledge, land holding, Area Under turmeric crop, annual income, social participation, extension contact, mass media exposure, risk orientation and the only dependent variable was attitude.

Results and Discussion

Conclusion

Major constraints faced by turmeric growers while using the biomix was biomix is not available at the right time, lack of information on how to use biomix properly, lack of information about biomix, lack of awareness about which method of biomix should be used, biomix has low sustainability and biomix technology is hard to handle. Major suggestions given by the turmeric growers to overcome the problems faced by them was biomix should be made available in abundant quantity at the right time, a training program should be conducted on biomix usage, biomix units should provide information, awareness should be created regarding the proper method of administering biomix, sustainability of biomix should be increased and provide knowledge of technology maintenance. This will be helpful in changing farmer's attitude from less favourable to favourable and favourable to highly favourable and in adopting such innovations.

References

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