STUDY ON INFORMATION NEEDS REGARDING CULTIVATION AND MARKETING CONSTRAINTS OF BANANA GROWERS IN AGASTEESWARAM TALUK OF KANYAKUMARI DISTRICT OF TAMIL NADU

Abstract

In Banana production India has first rank in the world. In agriculture, the production of fruits and
vegetables are of so vital importance that it provide three to four time more income than cereals per unit of land.
The fruit crops hold a great promise for accelerating income of the farmers. Realizing the importance of fruit
cultivation many farmers are diverting their resources towards plantation of fruit crops. Area under fruit crops is,
therefore, increasing day by day. Banana could be considered as poor man’s apple and it is available throughout
the year unlike seasonal availability of other fruits. Tamil Nadu state rank in banana production in India is first
where area is 113.7 thousand hectare and production is 5136.2 thousand M.T. the banana in the state has been
reportedly being cultivated under traditional manner (NHB, 2018-19). By and large, the farmers are cultivating
only the traditional varieties of banana. The profitability of the banana products has not been quite substantial.
The profitability of banana production depends upon the income generating capacity and cost structure of the
enterprises. However, much information is not available on the economic aspect of banana cultivation at micro
level. Hence a study encompassing the above-mentioned issues is a felt need and it is quite justified in taking up
such a study. In order to find the solution to some of the problems discussed above, the present study has been
contemplated in Kanyakumari.