Prioritisation of the Constraints Faced by Protected Vegetable Growers: A Case of North Western Himalayan State

The protected vegetable cultivation not only amplify overall production and efficiency but also enables diversification, ensuring a steady year-round vegetable supply. The present study was conducted in the mid hill zone of Himachal Pradesh during 2022-23. The study employed a mixed sampling method, incorporating purposive sampling and multistage random sampling. A list of vegetable growers engaged in protected cultivation was obtained from agricultural and horticultural departments. To acquire the required data, a final sample of 240 growers was randomly selected. The goal is to identify constraints voiced by vegetable growers in the production, financial, technical, and marketing aspects of vegetable crops under protected cultivation. The constraints for various aspects were analysed using Response Priority Index (RPI), the scarcity of healthy planting material as the foremost concern, with a high priority score of 4.48. Examining financial and technical aspects, the study identifies a significant knowledge gap in post-harvest technologies as the most critical challenge, scoring 4.61. Among marketing constraints, the reliance on distant markets (4.69) emerges as the most pressing issue for polyhouse vegetable growers. To ensure the success of polyhouse cultivation, it is crucial to include them in insurance coverage for farmer protection. Providing comprehensive information and training on polyhouse design and maintenance, establishing cold storage facilities, and educating growers on optimal cultivation practices are key measures for sustainable and resilient agricultural practices.