developing suitable production and marketing strategies in cashew nut cultivation a multidimensional analysis

Abstract

The study entitled DEVELOPING SUITABLE PRODUCTION AND newlineMARKETING STRATEGIES IN CASHEWNUT CULTIVATION A MULTIDIMENSIONAL newlineANALYSIS was taken up to study the cropping pattern, extent of newlineadoption of recommended cashew nut production technologies, marketing behaviour and to newlineassess their training needs. It also aimed to find the effectiveness of different training newlinemodules in terms of knowledge gain, perceived skill and symbolic adoption behaviour newlineamong the cashew growers. Constraints faced by the farmers in production and marketing of newlinecashewnut were also studied and it also aimed to propose strategies for sustainable cashew newlinenut production. newlineThe study was conducted in three blocks namely Sendurai, Andimadam and newlineJayankondam of Ariyalur district in Tamil Nadu by considering the maximum area under newlinecashew nut cultivation. A total sample size of 180 cashew nut farmers were selected newlinebased on Proportionate Random Sampling Technique as well as by using secondary newlinesource of information. newlineSeventeen independent variables were selected to study the extent of adoption, newlinetraining needs and effectiveness of training module in terms of knowledge gain, newlineperceived skill, symbolic adoption behaviour and marketing behaviour of cashew nut newlinegrowers. Data were collected through a well-structured and pre-tested interview schedule. newlineThe collected data were analysed by using appropriate statistical tools viz., percentage newlineanalysis, mean and standard deviation, cumulative frequency method, simple correlation newlineanalysis, Multiple regression analysis, partial t test and analysis of variance. The salient newlinefindings of the study are as follows. newlineIt could be observed that 62.22 per cent of the cashew nut farmers were practicing newlineintercropping of black gram in cashew nut garden followed by fodder as intercropping by newline28.33 per cent of respondents and 9.45 per cent were cultivated cashew as sole crop. newlineWhen considering the adoption of recommended practices 41.11 per cent of the newlinecashew nut farmers fully adopted the recommended spacing of 7m X 7m for planting of newlinecash