Adoption Status of Post-Harvest Technologies by Onion Growers in Zone-III, Karnataka, India

Abstract

This study evaluates the adoption of post-harvest technologies among onion farmers in Dharwad and Gadag districts of Karnataka, India, where onions a key commercial crop suffer significant post-harvest losses, often between 30% and 40%. The research aimed to assess farmers' usage of post-harvest practices, factors influencing adoption, and challenges faced. A sample of 120 farmers was selected through random sampling, and data were collected via structured interviews. The findings show that all farmers (100%) rely on labor-intensive hand-pulling for harvesting, with no adoption of mechanical harvesters. Similarly, field or window curing is universally practiced due to its affordability, and manual grading based on visual inspection remains dominant, with only 2.50% adopting motorized grading systems. In terms of storage, 65.00% of farmers use traditional structures, while cold storage is completely absent. Packaging materials like nylon net bags (43.33%) and plastic bags (55.00%) are increasingly used. Despite some shifts towards modern packing, the overall adoption of advanced technologies remains low, hindered by financial constraints, lack of awareness, and inadequate infrastructure. The study underscores the urgent need for improved access to affordable technologies, better infrastructure, and farmer training programs to mitigate post-harvest losses and boost onion farmers' incomes in the region.