Knowledge and Skill Assessment of Farmers Regarding Cherry Cultivation Practices. The Study in District Baramulla of Jammu and Kashmir (UT), India

Present study is based on the data collected from horticulture zone Tangmarg of district Baramulla of Jammu and Kashmir (UT), which consists of 35 fruit growing villages out of which 06 villages were selected purposively having maximum area under cherry fruit cultivation. A proportionate allocation approach was used to pick 120 cherry growers from the 06 villages that were chosen. The study shows that majority (46.66%) of the cherry growers were having medium level of knowledge regarding various cherry cultivation practices. It was also found that most (50%) of the cherry growers had low skills, 43.33 per cent of the cherry growers were having medium skills and very less percentage (6.66%) of the cherry growers had high skills of cherry cultivation. It was observed that majority of the cherry growers had not taken any expert guidance regarding various operations necessary for cherry cultivation. So it is categorical that cherry growers were not cultivating cherry as per the recommended package of practices of cherry. As a result, demand-based, cost-effective training programmes and methods must be tailored to ensure that human resources are put to the best possible use in order to achieve long-term cherry production.