Yield gap and adoption patterns analysis and production constraints of groundnut growers of Tumkur district, Karnataka

The study was carried out in Tumkur district of Karnataka state with a view to find out technological and extension gap, production constraints and suggestions to overcome constraints in groundnut production. The results revealed that there was a significant total yield gap in groundnut. The magnitude of extension gap was higher than technological gap. Nearly two-third of the growers belonged to medium level adoption category. Majority of them adopted practices like use of high yielding varieties, gypsum application and optimum seed rate. Majority of them did not adopt production technologies viz., plant protection measures, seed treatment practices, application of recommended quantity of FYM and inorganic fertilizers and weedicide application, micronutrient application, fallow ploughing and ploughing across the slope. The major production constraints perceived by the groundnut growers were high cost of inputs (95.33%), non-availability of improved seeds in time (93.33%), erratic distribution of rainfall (92.00%), non-availability and improper application of micronutrients (90.66%), high cost of plant protection measures (89.33%). The possible suggestions made by the growers were availability and supply of improved seeds, biofertilizers at right time and at reasonable price, developing labor saving tools, developing high yielding short duration varieties, drought tolerant and disease resistant varieties, providing crop insurance.