Adoption Behaviour of Vegetable Growers Towards Post Harvest Management Practices in Punjab

This study investigates the adoption behavior of vegetable growers towards post-harvest management practices in Nakodar, Malerkotla, and Baba Bakala Sahib, Punjab, India, using a survey of 240 growers. The 59.17% of farmers have a favorable attitude towards post-harvest practices, recognizing their role in reducing spoilage and enhancing market value. The application of the Theory of Diffusion of Innovation (DOI) demonstrated medium knowledge levels among potato (56.9%) growers, and lower levels for tomato (49.2%), cauliflower (37.5%), okra (41.5%), and pea (50.2%) growers. Only 58.62% adopted recommended harvesting methods for potatoes, while none followed proper tomato harvesting techniques, resulting in post-harvest losses. The 94.32% of cauliflower growers and 80.90% of okra growers practiced grading. Stepwise regression analysis indicated that 27% of the variation in knowledge was influenced by social participation, age, extension activities, and economic orientation. The study emphasizes the need for targeted extension programs to enhance farmers’ knowledge of storage and transportation practices, alongside promoting low-cost storage technologies and skill training in post-harvest management to minimize losses and improve profitability.