Understanding Farmers Problem and Training Needs on Apricot Production in Trans Himalayan Ladakh, India

A survey was conducted among 500 apricot growers in Ladakh to identify constraints faced in their production system and their grassroots training needs.Of the growers surveyed, 47.8 % of respondents were having less than 20 apricot trees. Most (53.8 %) grew apricots for drying, 31.2 % for fresh consumption, and 15 % for kernel oil. A significantly high number of respondents(44.8 %) reported 11-30 % fruit wastage, while 31.4 % reported 31-50 % fruit wastage. Lack of marketing opportunities and harvesting tools were cited as the main reasons for fruit wastage. The growers do not follow the standard growing practices, and the knowledge about insect pests and diseases is poor in the region. The most significant constraints in apricot production were lack of appropriate fruit drying technology, followed by high insect pest infestation, lack of marketing opportunities, lack of fencing around the field, insufficient water for irrigation purposes, and non-availability of nursery plants. Growers were open to a wide variety of sources of information on apricot production, with the most commonly selected response being friends/ relatives (53.2 %), followed by television (22.4 %), training and awareness camps (15.8 %), and radio (3.6%). The findings will help researchers, extension personnel, administrators, and policymakers to bring reforms to the apricot industry.