An Empirical Analysis of Constraints in Off-season Cabbage Cultivation: Evidence from Senapati, Manipur, India

Background: The horticulture sector plays a vital role in agricultural diversification, income generation, and nutritional security in India. However, its growth is uneven due to regional differences in productivity, infrastructure, and technology adoption. In Manipur, although conditions are favourable, off-season vegetable cultivation, especially cabbage, faces several constraints. These challenges reduce productivity and economic viability and need to be examined systematically. Aims: The study was undertaken to analyze the constraints faced by farmers in off-season cabbage cultivation in Senapati district of Manipur, India. Study Design: Simple random sampling with proportional allocation was employed in this study. One district and two blocks were selected purposively on the basis of highest contribution to area and production of off-season cabbage further respondents were selected through simple random sampling using proportional allocation. Methodology: The study was conducted in Mao-Maram block and Paomata block of Senapati district of Manipur. Four villages, namely Makuilongdi, Punanamei, Laii, and Tungjoy, were selected for the study, and a total of (n = 80) off-season cabbage growers were included as respondents. The data was collected for the period 2022-23. Garrett ranking technique and Constraint Severity Index (CSI) were used for analysis of constraints. Result: The results revealed that resource constraints were the most severe (0.96), followed by technical constraints (0.93) and economic constraints (0.91). Labour scarcity, pest infestation, and inadequate institutional support emerged as the most critical constraints. Conclusion: The study suggests strengthening institutional support, improving irrigation facilities, and enhancing technical knowledge to improve productivity and profitability. The results indicated the necessity for coordinated policy efforts to address structural bottlenecks in labour availability, pest management, and institutional support systems to enhance farm-level efficiency and income stability.