Socio-Economic Profile and Knowledge of Respondents Regarding Recommended Orange Cultivation Techniques

Introduction

India stands as one of the leading global producers of citrus fruits, with oranges holding a prominent position due to their high nutritional value, growing domestic and export demand, and adaptability to diverse agro-climatic zones. Madhya Pradesh, particularly Khandwa district, has emerged as a major hub for orange cultivation owing to its semi-arid climate, favorable soils, and rising farmer participation. Globally, oranges are cultivated on 3.9 million hectares with an annual production of about 76 million tonnes, while in India they cover 4.38 lakh hectares, yielding 7.5 million tonnes at an average productivity of 17.1 t/ha. Madhya Pradesh contributes significantly with 73,000 hectares producing 1.35 million tonnes, and Khandwa alone accounts for nearly 11,000 hectares, establishing it as a key center for citrus farming in central India.

Oranges are highly valued both nutritionally and commercially, providing about 50-60 mg of vitamin C per 100 g, which boosts immunity, aids iron absorption, and functions as a strong antioxidant. A 100 g serving supplies roughly 47 kcal, 11-12 g carbohydrates, 0.9 g protein, 0.1 g fat, and 2.4 g fiber, making it a refreshing, health-promoting fruit consumed fresh or processed into juice, jams, and concentrates. Given its economic importance, the knowledge level of farmers plays a vital role in orchard management, as it encompasses not only awareness but also the comprehension and practical adoption of recommended cultivation practices (Patil et al., 2018) [13] . The availability of critical inputs such as quality seedlings, fertilizers, irrigation facilities, and pest management resources significantly influences the adoption of improved cultivation practices. Farmers with regular exposure to Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs), horticulture departments, and agri-entrepreneurs generally demonstrate higher levels of adoption and better orchard management outcomes (Meena et al., 2021) [8] . Hence, a region-specific study on farmers' knowledge and adoption levels becomes essential to identify existing gaps and strengthen sustainable orange cultivation in Khandwa.

Material and Methods

The study was conducted in Khandwa district of Madhya Pradesh, purposively selected due to its prominence in orange cultivation. The district, part of the Nimar region, spans 7,320 sq. km with fertile black cotton and alluvial soils, a tropical climate, annual rainfall of 900-1,100 mm, and suitable conditions for horticultural crops, especially oranges. An ex-post facto research design was employed since the variables had already occurred. Out of seven blocks, Khandwa and Chegaon Makkhan were purposively chosen, from which two villages each-Baidiyaw and Pipaliya (Khandwa block), and Ahmadpur Khaigaon and Sirra (Chegaon Makkhan block)-were randomly selected. A total of 30 orange growers from each village were purposively chosen, comprising a final sample of 120 respondents for the study. Data were collected through personal interviews using a structured interview schedule. The collected information was analyzed using statistical tools such as percentage, frequency, mean, standard deviation, and chi-square. Percentages were used to compare data sets, frequency measured the occurrence of variables, mean provided the average trend, standard deviation indicated the spread of data, and chi-square tested associations between dependent and independent variables. The knowledge of orange growers regarding recommended cultivation practices was assessed using the "Teacher Made Test" method suggested by Anastasi (1961) [1] . In consultation with experts, twenty-nine critical practices of orange cultivation were identified, and a structured questionnaire was prepared. Farmers' responses were scored as two for full knowledge, one for partial knowledge, and zero for no knowledge, with the maximum attainable score being 58. The knowledge index was calculated as: Knowledge Index = (Number of correct responses × 100) / Total knowledge items.

Based on the mean and standard deviation, respondents were classified into high, medium, and low knowledge groups, providing a clear picture of their awareness and adoption of recommended practices. Based on the computed scores, respondents were categorized into high, medium, and low knowledge levels using the mean and standard deviation as benchmarks.

Results and Discussion

This chapter presents the findings of the study, "Socio-Economic Profile and Knowledge of Respondents Regarding Recommended Orange Cultivation Techniques." Data from 120 purposively selected orange farmers were collected through a structured interview schedule, analyzed, and tabulated. It highlights the socio-economic characteristics of the growers-such as age, education, landholding, orchard size, income, and farming experience-and assesses their knowledge of recommended orange cultivation practices.

Profile of the Respondents

The data reveal that a majority of respondents (50.83%) belonged to the middle-age group, followed by young farmers (26.67%) and old-age farmers (22.50%). This suggests that over half of the orange growers are in their economically active years, which may positively influence the adoption of recommended cultivation practices. These findings are consistent with Patel & Patel (2018) [9] and Kumar & Sharma (2017) [6] . In terms of farming experience, nearly half of the respondents (47.50%) had medium experience (6-12 years), while 29.17% had high experience and 23.33% had low experience. This indicates that most orange growers possess considerable practical exposure, balancing traditional knowledge with openness to innovation. Similar trends were reported by Patel & Sharma (2019) [10] , who found that 45.83% of kinnow growers in Rajasthan had medium farming experience, and by Rathore et al. (2017) [14] , who noted that 48% of citrus growers in Madhya Pradesh fell into the same category. Education-wise, the largest proportion of respondents (38.33%) had attained secondary-level schooling, followed by primary (28.33%) and high school (17.50%) education, while 15.83% were illiterate. This shows that most farmers possess at least basic literacy, which aids in comprehending improved practices. These results align with Patil et al. (2018) [13] , who found that 36.66% of orange growers had secondary-level education, and Singh & Kumar (2017), who observed that 40% of citrus growers in Rajasthan had education up to the secondary level. Landholding data revealed that 31.67% of respondents were small farmers (1.01-2.00 ha), 24.17% semi-medium, 21.67% marginal, 15.83% medium, and 6.66% large farmers. Similarly, orchard size distribution showed that 43.33% owned small orchards (≤2.00 ha), followed by medium (34.17%) and large orchards (22.50%). These patterns highlight the predominance of small and semimedium farmers, which may limit investment capacity in high-cost technologies. Comparable results were reported by Rathore et al. (2018) [14] in Madhya Pradesh and Kamble & Shinde (2017) [4] in Maharashtra, while Patil et al. (2019) and Choudhary & Sharma (2017) [3] also noted that small orchard sizes are common among citrus growers. Annual income analysis showed that most respondents (42.50%) belonged to the medium-income category, followed by low-income farmers (38.33%), while only 19.17% were in the high-income group. This indicates that most orange growers have moderate earning capacity, which affects their ability to invest in modern technologies. These results agree with Kamble et al. (2018) [5] , Yadav & Singh (2016) [19] , and Reddy et al. (2020) [16] , who reported that medium-income farmers strike a balance between risktaking and investment. With respect to knowledge levels, 46.67% of respondents had medium knowledge of recommended practices, 32.50% had low knowledge, and only 20.83% had high knowledge. Adoption levels reflected a similar pattern, with 48.33% in the medium category, 30.00% in the low category, and just 21.67% achieving high adoption. These results emphasize the need for stronger extension interventions to bridge the gap between knowledge and practice. Comparable findings were reported by Patil et al. (2017) [12] , Bhoi & Sharma (2019) [2] , Kumari & Singh (2018) [7] , and Verma et al. (2020) [18] , who all observed moderate knowledge and adoption levels among citrus growers due to resource constraints and partial exposure to improved techniques. www.extensionjournal.com

Overall level of knowledge at farmer's regarding recommended orange cultivation techniques

The assessment of ginger growers' knowledge regarding improved production technology revealed that 45.00% of respondents had a medium level of knowledge, followed by 33.33% with low knowledge and only 21.67% with high knowledge. This indicates that while a considerable proportion of farmers are moderately aware of scientific practices, a significant gap still exists in achieving higher knowledge levels. Similar findings were reported by Patel and Deshmukh (2019) [11] in Madhya Pradesh and Sharma and Singh (2018) in Rajasthan, where most fruit growers possessed moderate knowledge. Kumar et al. (2018) [7] also highlighted that targeted extension interventions play a crucial role in improving farmers' knowledge and adoption of recommended techniques.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the study revealed that most orange growers were middle-aged (50.83%) with medium farming experience (47.50%) and secondary education (38.33%), while the majority were small farmers with orchards up to 2 ha (43.33%) and medium income levels (42.50%). Knowledge and adoption were largely medium (around 45-48%), with better awareness in soil preparation (58.33%) and irrigation practices, but gaps in rootstock selection (37.5%), recommended variety 'Nucellar' (33.33%), www.extensionjournal.com fertilizer doses (40%), growth regulator use (33.33%), and post-harvest management (41.67%). Overall, farmers showed fair knowledge of basic practices but limited awareness of advanced techniques, highlighting the need for focused extension efforts.

Acknowledgement

AcknowledgmentThe author sincerely thanks the Associate Professor of the Department of Technology Transfer, Mahatma Gandhi Chitrakoot Gramodaya Vishwavidyalaya, Chitrakoot, Satna (M.P.), India, for their guidance and support in successfully completing this research. Gratitude is also extended to all colleagues, field assistants, and laborers for their assistance and valuable contributions.

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