International Journal of Agriculture Extension and Social Development

author(s)
Asokhan M, A Abinaya and TN Sujeetha

abstract
Onions are economically and nutritionally important vegetable crop. Despite advances in technology and acreage, Indian onion growers face challenges in realizing their full productivity potential. Drip irrigation technology in onion cultivation emerges as a promising solution to address water use inefficiencies while optimizing crop yields and qualities. This study investigates the socio-economic characteristics of onion growers using percentage analysis. The survey was conducted to collect primary data from 119 cotton growing farmers in Thondamuthur block of Coimbatore district. Findings reveal that three- fifths (60.50%) of the respondents belonged to middle age group, more than half (51.26%) of the drip owners were having secondary level of education, more than half (58.82%) the respondents possessed medium category of annual income, more than two-fourths (53.78%) of the onion farmers had 1.1 to 2.0 ha of area under drip irrigation, about half (49.58%) the respondents fall under medium level of information seeking behaviour, almost two-thirds (62.18%) of the drip farmers used tube well as their source of irrigation followed by well (20.17%), more than two-fifths (42.86%) of the respondents had medium farming experience using drip irrigation system, almost three-fourths (73.95%) of the respondents had high procurement of irrigated area, more than half (54.62%) the respondents had medium effect of dis on production, about three-fifths (59.66%) of the respondents had medium care of maintenance of system, nearly three-fourths (72.27%) of the respondents were members of social organization, more than two-thirds (69.75%) of the respondents had medium category of economic motivation, more than half (54.62%) of the respondents had medium category of scientific orientation, more than two-thirds (68.07%) of the respondents had not undergone any trainings in the past three years related to drip irrigation system and more than three-fourths (75.63%) of the respondents had medium satisfaction with drip irrigation system. The socio-economic characteristics of the farmer respondents plays a crucial role in identifying the impact of drip irrigation among the Onion growers. This paper will address the socio-economic characteristics of the onion growers which will help in designing targeted interventions to overcome barriers and encourage more farmers to adopt this technology.