Effects Of Sociodemographic Characters On Adoption Of Post-Harvest Practices In Mitigating Post-Harvest Losses Of Ginger (Zingiber Officinale) In Surkhet District, Nepal

Study was carried out to find the factors influencing the farmers’ decision to adopt recommended preservation practices of ginger in Surkhet district. Altogether 9 wards from Chinchu, Ramghat and Awalching rural municipalities were purposively selected for the survey within the ginger zone command area. Within the studied wards of the rural municipalities, samples were randomly selected. A total of 120 households were surveyed. Primary data were collected using semi-structured questionnaire, Focus Group Discussion (FGD), Key Informants Interview (KII), Field observations, whereas secondary data were obtained through a review of relevant literature, AKC, Zone publications, journals, etc. The data obtained were analyzed using statistical software like SPSS and MS-Excel by using statistical tools like descriptive statistics, frequency distribution, mean comparison, chi square test, t test, binary logistic regression, etc. The farmers were categorized into high and low adopters on adoption index basis of each farmer. Out of 12 independent factors studied, 3 factors: age, access to extension services and training received were most influencing factors of adoption of recommended preservation practices of ginger. However, gender, ethnicity, family type, ginger cultivation area, farmer category, subsidy received, years of cultivation were not strong enough to contribute significantly to the level of adoption. In agriculture decision making, marketing and agricultural organizations, males were more involved than female and so was the case for involvement in preservation of ginger.