Pantnagar Journal of Research

Abstract

Media driven mass awareness about health and healthy lifestyles has generated peoples’ concern for balanced diet and nutritional aspects of daily intake. Consequently, the demand and consumption of fruits has gone up significantly across the entire social spectrum in India, thereby opening up new avenues for entrepreneurship in Horticulture sector. The state of Uttarakhand, nestled in the lap of the Himalayas, boasts a rich agricultural heritage and diverse agro-climatic conditions conducive to the cultivation of a wide array of fruits. With its unique topography and favourable climatic conditions, Uttarakhand holds immense potential for horticultural enterprises, particularly in fruit crop production. However, while the region offers abundant opportunities, hortipreneurs in Uttarakhand face numerous challenges. In this context, understanding the training needs of hortipreneurs in value addition and fruit crop production is paramount to unlocking the full potential of the horticultural sector in Uttarakhand. The present study was carried out with the objective of determining Training Needs of Hortipreneurs in Uttarakhand. Two districts (Nainital and Almora) were purposively selected in Kumaon division of Uttarakhand. The study sample comprised of 70 farmers, 35 each from one district, selected by snowball sampling method. Data was collected using a structured interview schedule. Borisch method of training needs assessment was utilised to identify the training needs of respondents. Results showed that respondents expressed training needs in the areas of value addition and processing. Besides, training need was observed in preservation and extended shelf life, essential oil extraction. Additionally, in fruit crop based enterprises, maximum training need was reported in the Micro Irrigation Techniques in orchards followed by Orchard Establishment and Management, Quality Planting Material, Plant Propagation techniques and Pre-harvest & Post-harvest Management. These findings could provide useful insights for policy formulation as well as promotion of Hortipreneurship in Uttarakhand