Indian Journal of Extension Education

Vol. 56, No. 3, 2020 (44-48)

Farmers' Reception to Scientific Indian Gooseberry (Emblica officinalis Gaertn.)

Plantation Methods in the Aravalli Hills of Rajasthan

Mamta Meena1, B. S. Bhimawat2 and Surya Rathore3

ABSTRACT

Though, Indian gooseberry (aonla) plantation in the Indian sub-continent is wide spread but its systematic cultivation is
sparse. To have a considerable increase in the area under aonla cultivation, a lot of awareness is still required to be created
among the farmers regarding the importance of this fruit in enhancement of nutrition among the population as well as a good
source of income. Many NGOs are working to motivate the farmers to adopt the scientific plantation of aonla. Since BAIF,
Udaipur had launched a European Union project in three tribal Panchayat Samities of Udaipur district, they wanted to know
how far their advice, demonstrations and campaigns have been effective in terms of reception by the farmers towards
knowledge enhancement and adoption. A total of 80 respondents were randomly selected from the identified villages. The
results revealed that the majority of respondents (61.67%) had medium knowledge, and only 20 per cent of the respondents
fell in low knowledge category. Further, majority of the respondents (63.33%) were in the medium adoption level regarding
improved technology of aonla cultivation, while 20 per cent and 16.67 per cent respondents possessed poor and high
adoption level respectively. It is recommended that intensive skill based training programmes should be organized by NGOs
in collaboration with agricultural university in the jurisdiction of district Udaipur to minimize the adoption gap.

Key words: Aravalli hills, indian gooseberry, plantation, reception.

INTRODUCTION position in national and international market. Diversified

agro-climatic conditions across the country provide a
Aonla is known to be one of the most ancient and unique advantage for fruit production through extended
indigenous fruits of India. Fruits are of great importance period of availability and differential quality. Looking at
in human nutrition. At present, India is the second largest the importance and nutritive value of aonla fruit, it is
producer of fruits followed by China. Aonla is known to essential that farmers should adopt scientific aonla
be a rich source of Vitamin C and contains chemical plantation technology for higher production and
substances called lucoenthocyanin and polyphenols productivity.
which retard the oxidation of Vitamin C. It is preserved in
many forms like preserve (murabba), chutney, candy, Aonla is widely grown in tropical India. Being a
sauce, dried chips, tablets, jam, pickle as well as used in hardy fruit, it can be grown even on inferior or marginal
ayurvedic medicines like chyawanprash and triphala lands, wasteland, particularly in salt affected soil which
powder which are preferred by the consumers rather than are plenty in our country. The main limitations of fruit
eaten raw because of acidic taste. The excellent nutritive production in arid and semi-arid regions are water and
and therapeutic values of this fruit has great potential for high atmospheric aridity but as aonla trees are drought
processing into various quality products which can get resistant, they can be grown under most problematic soil

1.
Subject Matter Specialist (Agricultural Extension), ICAR – CAZRI, Jodhpur (Rajasthan), 2. Dean, College of Agriculture, Agricultural University, Jodhpur (Rajasthan)
3.
Principal Scientist (Extension Information Systems), ICAR – National Academy of Agricultural Research Management, Hyderabad – 500030 (TS)
 45 INDIAN JOURNAL OF EXTENSION EDUCATION

conditions, lack of water and adverse climate. In view of holders, they were grouped into (i) low (ii) medium and
good returns of aonla, its cultivation is becoming (iii) high knowledge levels on the basis of calculated
increasingly popular in north India, especially in Uttar mean and standard deviation of the obtained knowledge
Pradesh, Haryana and Rajasthan. Aonla is an ideal fruit scores by the respondents.
tree for Rajasthan climate and is suitable for cultivation in
arid and semi-arid regions with hill as well as plain Measurement of knowledge: To measure the knowledge
topography. of respondents, a knowledge test developed by
Chaturvedi (2000) was adopted with slight modification
Although, aonla plantations in the country is widely for the study. Package of major improved practices of
spread but its systematic cultivation is sporadic. For that aonla plantation were included in knowledge test. One
purpose, Bharatiya Agro Industries Foundation (BAIF), score was assigned to each correct answer and zero score
Udaipur had launched a European Union project in three to each incorrect answer. The responses obtained from the
tribal Panchayat Samities of Udaipur districts viz., respondents were counted and converted into Mean
Jhadol,Sarada and Kotra. These districts have an Percentage Score (MPS). The Knowledge Index (KI) for
undulating topography. Western part of the district has each respondent was calculated by using the following
high hills which are part of Aravalli ranges with formula:
intervening valleys, while the eastern part has relatively KI=K/P*100
low hills and broader plains. The study has been Where,
conducted to examine reception of the farmers regarding
scientitific aonla plantation practices in the study area. KI= Knowledge Index
The word reception in this study refers to as audience K= Knowledge score obtained
response in terms of knowledge gain and then response in P= Possible maximum score
terms of application of the same i.e. adoption.
The Knowledge gap was measured in terms of
Also, an attempt has been made to find out the gap in percentage by subtracting percentage mean of each
knowledge and adoption. Many a times, farmers have practice from 100. To measure the extent of adoption, a
knowledge but in spite of that they don't adopt the three-point continuum scale developed by Chaturvedi
technology. With this consideration, the present study was (2000) was adopted with slight modification. Package of
conducted on reception of farmers towards scientific practices of scientific cultivation of aonla were used for
aonla plantation in Udaipur district of Rajasthan with an development of the scale. Some of the practices were
objective to measure the knowledge level of farmers further divided into sub categories. The adoption index
about improved practices of aonla cultivation and study was calculated by using the following formula:
the extent of adoption of improved aonla cultivation Total adoption score obtained by respondents
technology among the farmers. Adoption index = *100
Maximum attainable score

METHODOLOGY This formula was applied for all practices, which

helped in calculating the adoption index.
The present study was conducted in Jhadol Panchayat
Samiti of district Udaipur in Rajasthan. Since Bharatiya Construction of Interview Schedule:
Agro Industries Foundation (BAIF), Udaipur had Part I: This part of interview schedule was designed to
launched a European Union project in three tribal assess the knowledge of respondents about various
Panchayat Samities of Udaipur districts viz., Jhadol, aspects of aonla plantation practices.
Sarada and Kotra; so Jhadol was selected. BAIF Udaipur
wanted to know how far their advice, demonstrations and Part II: This part of interview schedule was specially
campaigns have been effective in terms of knowledge designed to measure the extent of adoption by the
enhancement and change in practices among the farmers respondents regarding various aspects of improved
of the study area. Villages with maximum number of technology of aonla plantation.
families engaged in anola plantation were identified in the
three Panchayat Samitis. Finally, 80 (having anolawadi) RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
respondents were randomly selected from the identified
villages as sample. The data were collected by the Knowledge of the farmers about Improved Aonla
researcher with the help of well-structured interview Cultivation Practices-
schedule using face to face methods of interviewing. To To get an overview of the knowledge level, the
get an overview of the knowledge level of the aonlawadi aonlawadi holders were grouped into (i). low (ii). medium
 FARMERS' RECEPTION TO SCIENTIFIC INDIAN GOOSEBERRY (EMBLICA OFFICINALIS GAERTN.) 46
PLANTATION METHODS IN THE ARAVALLI HILLS OF RAJASTHAN
Name of fertilizers and their quantities during initial years 55.50 16 44.5
and (iii). high knowledge levels on the basis of calculated
Intercropping 97.36 1 2.64
mean and standard deviation of the obtained knowledge
Training and pruning 61.23 12 38.77
scores by the respondents. The results are presented in
Table1. Common insect, pests and diseases 61.01 13 38.99
Recommended control measures 57.23 15 42.77
Grading and packing of fruits 83.06 4 16.94
Table 1:Distribution of respondents on the basis of Sources from where good prices can be obtained 72.50 9 27.50
their level of knowledge Average yield obtained from eight to ten years old plant 51.76 19 48.24

Knowledge level Knowledge score No. of respondents Percentage

Low Below 59 16 20.00
Further, analysis of Table 2 showed that the practice
Medium Between 59-70 49 61.67
of grading/ packing, recommended plant to plant and row
High Above 70 15 18.33
to row distance and manure application in pits while
Total 80 100.00
planting had more than 80 per cent knowledge with MPS
score of 83.06, 82.45 and 81.39 per cent respectively. This
The data presented in Table 1 depicts that majority of was followed by the aspects such as correct time of
the respondents (61.67%) fell in the medium knowledge planting and awareness about improved varieties of aonla
group, whereas more than 15 per cent respondents with MPS 76.36, 73.12 and knowledge gap of
(18.33%) were found in the high knowledge group and respondents were 23.64 and 26.88 respectively.
remaining respondents possessed poor knowledge and
were placed in low knowledge group. It means that It means that respondents already had awareness
respondents had fairly good knowledge about improved about correct time of planting and improved varieties of
aonla cultivation practices. Similar findings were aonla. Whereas, respondents had less knowledge about
reported by Poonia (2002) who also found that the kinnow the aspects of proper time of fertilizer application,
growers had fairly good knowledge related to scientific authentic sources of improved aonla saplings, their
kinnow cultivation practices. In order to know the training, pruning and common insect pests and diseases of
knowledge of the respondents regarding various aonla aonla with MPS 66.30, 61.23 and 61.01 respectively.
cultivation practices, nineteen major practices were
identified. The mean percent score and knowledge gap Respondents possessed poor knowledge about
was calculated for each practice which is well presented in characteristics of improved varieties, recommended
Table 2. control measures for pests and diseases, methods and
correct time of propagation, name of fertilizers and their
The data presented in Table 2 indicated awareness quantities and average yield of aonla from eight to ten
about intercropping, appropriate irrigation interval and years old plant with 57.30, 57.23, 55.50, 54.16 and 52.39
recommended pit size aspects higher MPS and thus respectively. This indicated the need for training
indicate that the respondents had maximum knowledge regarding vegetative propagation, plant protection
about this aspect. The mean percent score of these aspects measures, information about improved varieties, name of
were 97.36, 96.37, 93.78 and the knowledge gap were fertilizers and average yield of aonla etc.
2.64, 3.63, 6.22 percent respectively.
Distribution of respondents on the basis of their level
Table 2: Knowledge of respondents regarding various of adoption:
aonla cultivation practices To get an overview of the adoption level, the aonla
Aspects MPS Rank Knowledge
wadi holders were grouped into (i) low (ii) medium and
gap (%) (iii) high knowledge levels on the basis of calculated
Awareness about improved varieties 73.12 8 26.88
mean and standard deviation of the obtained knowledge
Characteristics of these varieties 57.30 14 42.70
scores by the respondents.
Methods of propagation in aonla 54.16 17 45.84
Correct time for propagation 52.39 18 47.61 Table 3: Distribution of respondents on the basis of
Source from where one can get the improved variety of aonla sapling 65.63 11 34.37 their level of adoption
Recommended pit size 93.78 3 6.22 Adoption level Adoption score No. of respondents Percentage
Requisite amount of manure to be applied in pits while planting 81.39 6 18.61
Low Below 53 16 20
Correct time for planting 76.36 7 23.64
Medium 53-64 51 63.33
Recommended plant to plant and row to row distance 82.45 5 17.55
High Above 64 13 16.67
Appropriate irrigation interval 96.37 2 3.63
Total 80 100.00
Proper time of manure and fertilizer application 66.30 10 33.70
 47 INDIAN JOURNAL OF EXTENSION EDUCATION

Applying of manure and fertilizers in pits 57.91 7 42.09

The data presented in Table 3 revealed that majority
Plantation at the suitable time/season 52.67 10 47.33
of respondents (63.33%) fell in the medium adoption
Irrigation interval as per suggested schedule 57.91 7 42.09
group, whereas a meagre proportion (16.67%) of
Timely application of manure &fertilizers 61.25 6 38.75
respondents were observed in the high adoption level
group and remaining 16 (20%) respondents formed low Application of proper dose of manures and fertilizers 37.91 13 62.09

adoption level group. So, it is here by concluded that Intercropping 70.43 2 29.57

majority of the farmers were having medium level of Training and pruning 47.90 11 52.1

adoption followed by low and high adoption level Using control measures of insect pests 55.33 9 44.67

respectively. Grading of fruits after harvesting 72.36 1 27.64

Proper packing of fruits 55.83 8 44.17
Partial adoption of improved aonla cultivation Marketing 69.79 3 30.21
practices by the majority of aonla growers may be due to
inaccessibility to technology, lack of skills and average Whereas, respondents had less adoption about the
knowledge of improved aonla cultivation practices, aspects of using vegetative propagation in aonla plant and
which might have hindered its full adoption. They need to training and pruning with 42.63 and 47.90 MPS and 57.37
be taught intensively about almost all the aspects of aonla and 52.10 per cent adoption gap respectively.
cultivation so as to bring them up to the desired level that Respondents possessed poor adoption about the aspects
may lead to increased efficiency of aonla growers. These like applying proper dose of manure and fertilizers with
findings are similar and are in line with the findings of 37.91 MPS and 62.09 per cent adoption gap. Hence, it is
Bhople et.al. (1996). Similar findings were also reported recommended that intensive skill based training
by Kher (1992) and Patel et. al. (2003). programme should be organized by NGO, IFFCO (Indian
Farmers' Fertilizer Cooperative)in collaboration with
In order to know the extent of adoption of agricultural university in the jurisdiction of district
respondents regarding various aonla cultivation Udaipur to minimize the adoption gap in application of
practices, fifteen major practices were identified. The recommended dose of manure and fertilizers.
mean percent score and adoption gap were calculated for
each practice and then the result about the same have been CONCLUSION
presented in Table 4 which indicates that respondents had
maximum adoption regarding grading of fruits after Thus, it can be concluded that majority of the
harvesting, intercropping, digging of pit of recommended respondents (61.67%) were from medium knowledge
size and marketing aspects which had higher MPS. The category followed by 18.33 per cent respondents who
MPS of these aspects were 72.36, 70.43 and 69.79 and the possessed high knowledge about aonla cultivation
adoption gap were 27.64, 29.57 and 30.21 per cent technology. Only 20.00 per cent of the total respondents
respectively. Further, analysis of Table 4 shows that the could be placed in the category of low knowledge about
practices of maintaining required distance between improved aonla cultivation practices. The study revealed
plants, improved varieties and timely application of that the knowledge of respondents regarding
manures and fertilizers have more than 60 per cent intercropping was highest, whereas least knowledge was
adoption with MPS of 66.63, 64.50 and 61.25 per cent possessed by respondents regarding average yield of eight
respectively. This was followed by the aspects such as to ten years old aonla plants.
applying of manure and fertilizers in pits, irrigation
intervals as per the suggested schedule, proper packing of Majority of respondents (63.33%) had medium
fruits, using control measures of insect pests and adoption level regarding improved technology of aonla
plantation at a suitable time with MPS 57.91, 55.83, cultivation, while 20 and 16.67 per cent respondents
55.33, 52.67 and adoption gap of these traits were 42.09, possessed poor and high adoption level, respectively.
44.17, 44.67 and 47.33 respectively. Also, both knowledge and adoption level of the
respondents were in the medium category which indicates
Table 4: Extent of Adoption of improved aonla cultivation that whatever knowledge the farmers gained through
practices among the respondents trainings and demonstrations of the NGO, BAIF, they
n=80 tried to bring the same into practice.
Practices MPS Rank Adoption%

Improved varieties 64.50 5 35.5

Paper received on : February 17, 2020
Vegetative propagation 42.63 12 57.37
Accepted on : March 27, 2020
Digging of pit of recommended size 69.79 3 30.21
Maintaining required distance between plants 66.63 4 33.37
 FARMERS' RECEPTION TO SCIENTIFIC INDIAN GOOSEBERRY (EMBLICA OFFICINALIS GAERTN.) 48
PLANTATION METHODS IN THE ARAVALLI HILLS OF RAJASTHAN
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